Small is back

DAVAO City Councilor Nilo "Small" Abellera Jr. yesterday said that his absences in the council were all accounted for, clarifying reports that he is "missing."

Abellera yesterday showed a list of medical records that he was advised by his doctors to have two to four weeks rest after he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and diabetes.

He said all of his absences in the council were all accounted for.

"Nagfile ako ng leave ko sa City Council, it was approved. On August 18 nagpa-check ako sa doctor and ang advise sa akin to rest for two to four weeks ( I filed a sick leave at the city council. On August 18, I had a check up and the doctor advised me to rest for two to four weeks),” Abellera said.

He said that due to his sickness he also skipped August 29’s Senate hearing, and his sick leave lasted until September 29, 2017.

But despite this, Abellera appeared in the Senate hearing last August 31.

He added that he received Senate hearing invitations after August 29 but he did not attend because it entails cost, and at the same time, his lawyers also advised him to appear on the senate hearing only when he is prepared.

He said that yesterday was the first session he attended after the fourweek sick leave he filed.

His absences and his attendance to senate hearings were the main grounds given by Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte why the 18th city council declared the vacancy of committee of Abellera removing him as the committee chair for peace and order.

Abellera said that he accepts the decision of the council to replace the chairmanship of committee on peace and order and also his memberships to the other committees.

"Ang chairmanship sa committee, ang membership is a decision of the body, it is not a decision of one person only, if that is the decision of the body, then I will abide by it. I just came in now , in fact last tuesday palang, may nagtanong na media ang I told them doctor's advice natapos noong 29," he said.

He said that he is yet to talk with his colleagues about the recent development which involved his committee memberships.

He said that it was true that Majority Floor Leader Bernard Al-ag asked him if he can file for resignation of his committee memberships. KVC