VM Denies Bypassing JVR

Talisay City Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante denied that the council had bypassed Mayor Johnny Delos Reyes when they declared the city under a state of calamity last Friday.

Villarante quoted the Local Government Code and said there are two instances wherein the council can call for a special session: when the mayor would call for it, and when the majority of the council had recommended it.

He said he waited for Delos Reyes to tell him to call for a special session since the October 15 quake, but he did not, hence he called for a special session. It was on this session when they approved a resolution declaring the city under a state of a calamity.

Delos Reyes refused to further flame the conflict between him and his running mate. But according to his son, City Administrator John Yre, Villarante should have at least informed the mayor first of his move and not act like “another mayor” by pushing with major decisions on his own.

“There really is a need for a collegial decision after we received reports that there are damages to the City Hall which have to be repaired, and these may need a lot of money,” Villarante defended.

“Upon discussion of the councilors, we came up with a resolution to declare…primarily to allow the mayor to use the calamity funds,” Villarante added.

Despite their alliance last elections, Villarante has been in conflict with the mayor after his plans of putting his men at key positions were allegedly blocked by the mayor himself.