MARCAIDA BACK IN CITY LEGISLATURE

Vice Mayor Luis Marcaida III is back as head of the Puerto Princesa City legislature, October 8, 2018 after the court released him on bail.

He paid a visit to City Council Secretary, Atty. Philip Jerome Hilario, as he came back to his office after a year and a month of absence.

VM Marcaida also said that he will re-assume as the presiding officer of the city council as it is included in his duties as the vice mayor. “Alam naman natin na presiding officer ng Sangguniang Panlungsod, kailangan natin gampanan ang tungkulin na ‘yan.

Otherwise I will be marked as absent by the secretary dahil hindi na ako nakakulong. Unlike dati na nakakulong ako, may legal reasons, pero ngayon na naka-temporary bail tayo at tayo ay nasa labas, obligasyon ko na umattend ng session,” he said.

Marcaida also said that there will be no chaos between him and the mayor Lucilo Bayron’s camp as he said that they have different jobs and functions.

He added that he wanted to focus only on his job after being absent for more than a year.

“Sa ngayon, naka-focus ako sa trabaho muna kasi namiss ko yung trabaho talaga. Wala naman sigurong magiging problema kasi nasa executive si Mayor nasa legislative ako, magkaiba kami ng trabaho,” said Marcaida.

The vice mayor also said that it is guaranteed that he will perform his duties as the vice mayor of the city, also promising the people of Puerto Princesa that he will not bring chaos to the city. “Makakaasa sila na hindi

ako ay tutupad pa rin sa tungkulin ko bilang vice mayor, makakaasa silang walang masamang tinapay na manggagaling sa akin, hindi ako magiging sanhi ng kaguluhan,” the vice mayor further said.

He said he learned the virtue of humility while incarcerated, and stated further that he believes in the power of justice in the country. “Alam niyo, isa sa mga natutunan ko sa city jail, dati naman tayong humble eh, dati naman tayong mapgpakumbaba pero nung pumasok ako sa city jail, mas lalo akong naging mas mapagpakumbaba eh.

Bagamat vice mayor ako ng Puerto Princesa, papasok ko ng city jail maraming vice mayor doon marami, merong mayor dun, marami kaya kailangan mo sumunod sa mga patakaran na pinapatupad ng bawat dorm at may patakarang pinasusunod ang BJMP, kaya isa sa mga natutunan ko doon, ay humility. May kasong kinakaharap at patuloy pa rin yan pero naniniwala pa rin ako sa hustisya dito sa ating bansa,” he averted.

However, around 10AM, on the same day, as the city’s regular session began, Marcaida’s assumption as the presiding officer sparked discussion as councilors expressed their sentiments about Marcaida’s assumption. Councilor Nesario Awat said that there is no legal obstacle to Marcaida’s assumption as presiding officer of the august body as he said that it is given that Marcaida is the Vice mayor. “The presence of VM Marcaida, he can now preside as the presiding officer of this council there will be no legal obstacle for him to preside, considering that he is the vice mayor, “Awat explained.

Nancy Socrates, acting vice mayor explained during the session that she is only in the “acting capacity” as the vice mayor during Marcaida’s absence and has only been given the power to perform whatever the vice mayor does.

She clarified that she is not a full-fledge vice mayor and now that Marcaida is back in council, he can sit as the vice mayor already. “The letter from the DILG allowed me exercise the power to appoint, and dismiss, basically everything that the vice mayor does. But, that does not mean that I am a full-fledge vice mayor. Pinayagan ako na gawin lahat ng ginagawa ng vice mayor pero ako ay still in an acting capacity,” said Socrates.

Marcaida sat as the presiding officer and announced that he is only assuming the post of vice mayor and not as the city mayor cannot perfom both duties.

“Now that I am assuming the position of vice mayor, I can not assume as the mayor of Puerto Princesa and at the same time assume the position of vice mayor… If ever I assume today, I will assume as the presiding officer of the council that claims that I am assuming as the vice mayor or Puerto Princesa,” said Marcaida.