CEBU CITY — Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella insisted Thursday that the City Council’s approval of the resolution covering the PHP18-billion Kawit Island development project on Wednesday night was invalid.
Labella said the passage of the resolution was illegal since the session was already adjourned when the majority bloc voted for its approval.
“As far as I’m concerned, the proceedings were no longer official as the session was declared adjourned after Councilor Raymond Garcia moved for the adjournment and Councilor Joel Garganera seconded it,” Labella said.
The majority bloc, however, continued the proceedings with Councilor Dave Tumulak as presiding officer pro tempore and approved the resolution authorizing Mayor Tomas Osmeña to enter into a joint venture agreement with the Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. for a resort development on Kawit Island at the South Road Properties (SRP).
Labella said the majority’s continuation of the regular session Wednesday night was against house rules and therefore the approval of the resolution was out of order.
Mayor Osmeña, for his part, said Labella is just playing politics as the vice mayor will be running against him in the 2019 elections.
If Labella and the opposition councilors find the approval of the resolution irregular, then they are always welcome to file a case, the mayor said.
Labella, however, clarified that they are not against the project but questioned the irregularity of the proceedings.
Osmeña, meanwhile, said he is looking forward to signing the agreement with the Gokongwei-owned development firm. (Luel Galarpe/PNA)
