CEBU CITY – Sessions at the provincial board in Cebu have always been calm with disagreements hardly breaking out among lawmakers.

That changed on Monday, May 26, when provincial board members figured in a heated exchange stemming from a controversial proposed P1.2-billion supplemental budget.

Emotions ran high when some provincial members expressed their dismay over allegations made by one of their colleagues in media interviews.

Board member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III took the floor to defend the integrity and professionalism of the board amid mounting public scrutiny over the proposed P1.2-billion supplemental budget for fiscal year 2025.

“Mr. Chair, I find it disheartening that at a time when we should be united to ensure a smooth transition for the incoming administration, this court is being questioned and doubts are being cast upon our proceedings – and ultimately, against this institution,” Martinez said.

Stressing that he was speaking not only for himself but in defense of the entire legislative body, Martinez lamented what he described as unfair and premature remarks made by Cebu third district board member Ismael John Borgonia.

“The pending passage of Supplemental Budget No. 1 for fiscal year 2025 has become a hot topic in both mainstream and social media – fueled by public statements made by one of our colleagues,” Martinez added.

Martinez accused Borgonia of making malicious accusations that the board was acting in bad faith, particularly concerning a special session that failed to push through due to lack of quorum.

Borgonia has publicly opposed the move of Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to allocate an additional fund of P1.2 billion.

Borgonia, who withdrew his reelection bid a few days before the recent election, questioned the intention of the move.

The proposed supplemental budget drew public scrutiny with some groups describing it as a midnight deal.

A group opposing the proposed supplemental budget held a rally outside the legislative building hours before the session started.

Martinez took exception to Borgonia's pronouncement, clarifying that the budget remains a draft, still subject to review, amendments, and proper legislative deliberation.

Martinez pointed out that the proposed supplemental budget is meant to support both the current and incoming members of the PB, especially with the addition of two new representatives from the newly created lone district of Mandaue City.

He moved to refer several items on the calendar of business to their committees for further discussion.

Borgonia withdrew his resolution opposing the discussion of the proposed P1.2-billion supplemental budget since the measure was not included in the day’s official agenda.

“I do not know what is the intention of my colleagues, maybe that is to get back at me, whatever. Well, I will be the recipient of the punching bag, Mr. Chair," Borgonia said.

The exchange escalated when Board Members Tata Corominas, Glenn Soco, and Martinez defended the right of members to express their individual views.

“This is a show of how low the opinion of the gentleman from the third district has of his colleagues. We are all professionals here, and we are all here to do our job. To say that the budget will pass because (of the) majority; it's a numbers game... he is taking away our individual stand and opinion on the matter,” Corominas said.

Soco backed Corominas’ concern and requested that portions of Borgonia's statements be stricken off from the official records.

“I move that those statements issued by Board Member Borgonia be stricken off from the records,” Soco said. The motion was seconded by Martinez and carried without objections.

Borgonia defended his previous statements, clarifying that he didn't mean to divide the board.

“Considering that there is no supplemental budget for approval in today's agenda, Mr. Chair, this does not serve any purpose. So, considering that, Mr. Chair, there's no point in discussing this. As the author, it is also my right to withdraw at any time a certain resolution which does not serve any purpose,” Borgonia said, referring to his earlier resolution seeking to block the budget’s passage.

“The main purpose of this resolution was, of course, to stop the supplemental budget from passing,” he added.

The Committee on Budget and Appropriations has returned the proposed Supplemental Annual Investment Program No. 1 to the Office of the Governor for further review and assessment on Friday, May 23.

Corominas later reiterated her concern about Borgonia's approach, saying it preempted the collective intention of the board.

“I think the point of contention for many of us here is that what the gentleman from the third district did during the special session and today is to preempt the intention of the provincial board. He has been doing his rounds of interviews but has failed to convey his misgivings to us, his colleagues. And since he is talking about ethics here, the most prudent and ethical thing to do would have been to wait for the supplemental budget to be calendared and exhaust all his objections during the deliberation of the said budget,” she said.