A Caloocan City councilor on Friday hit city 2nd District Rep. Egay Erice for meddling in the internal affairs of the city council after it has recently gone under tension due to alleged post removal of another councilor.
Councilor Dean Asistio in a statement assailed Erice, a supposed 2022 mayoral elections aspirant, for “politicking” amid the ongoing pandemic.
This came after Erice stood by Councilor Rose Mercado by saying the latter resigned from her post as majority floor leader—a claim disputed by majority of the councilors under the administration’s party.
For Asistio, Erice “only speaks for himself as a politician...and not as a member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).” He also alleged that the latter has an “overwhelming personal ambitions.”
Asistio added that Erice, rather than “wasting and consuming his time and resources politicking,” should “have the delicadeza and circumspect to keep quiet if he doesn’t have the time and heart to care for his constituents.”
“There is a time for everything. Now is not the time for politics,” Asistio said as he noted that “it is a source of demoralization and frustration for our constituents to watch their political leaders bicker amidst the growing economic hardships.”
There is now a growing tension inside the city council, particularly among its members, as the 2022 elections nears. Some councilors, including Mercado, are already changing their political alignment, in favor of the opposition led by Erice, while many Caloocan residents are still struggling with the coronavirus disease crisis.
In his privilege speech posted on his Facebook account on Wednesday, Asistio called on the Committee on Ethics and Discipline to investigate Mercado for her “unbecoming conduct” after she allegedly shouted and hurled curses while another councilor was talking. He even presented a video of the said incident.
In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Mercado clarified she only had an outburst of emotion and the incident happened during recess.
"Mercado decided to allow politics to take precedence over public service. Her unruly behaviour was conducted during a special session called for the purpose of discussing urgent legislation to discuss COVID-related matters. Instead of discussing solutions to problems besetting our city, she insisted in an unprecedented unbecoming of a supposed respectable official, to discuss her resignation letter, which has already become moot and academic since she was already ousted.” Asistio said.
In relation to Mercado’s resignation, she maintained that she resigned from her post.
Asistio disputed by saying, “that prior to her submission of a resignation letter, the majority block already publicly withdrew their trust and confidence in her.”
He added that “it was even made public “through a... written resolution signed by 10 councilors.”
“This is precisely the reason why majority of the members of the SP ousted her as majority floor leader," Asistio said, referring to Mercado’s action to allegedly “allow politics to take precedence over public service.”
For Asistio, Erice’s meddling with the council was the reason he “stood up and delivered a privilege speech.”
“Erice, thinking and acting like a politician, trying to interfere in the internal affairs of the SP and city government, is precisely the reason I stood up,” he said.