The much-publicized Pacquiao-Algieri fight scheduled this month in Macau was almost upstaged by a near exchange of blows between two councilors of Bacolod City right in the Session Hall, that was stopped by the proverbial cooler heads of their colleagues yesterday.

The regular session of the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod had  to be cut short when  Councilors Claudio Puentevella and Carlos Jose Lopez nearly engaged in a fistfight over the  requirement of a liquidation report from  the Kasadya Bacolod Foundation Inc.  that  ran the 2014 MassKara Festival.

Vice Mayor Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya yesterday said he tried to pacify  the two who got into  a heated discussion over the amendments to the proposed resolution of Lopez requesting Kasadya to submit its liquidation report within 30 days.

Gasataya said that during a recess,  amendments  were suggested by other councilors to the resolution.

Lopez accepted the amendments proposed by the other councilors, like extending the deadline for submission to 60 days, which Paglumotan later asked to be  removed.

Baribar suggested that other barangays, who were given financial assistance by the city for the MassKara Festival, should also be required to submit liquidation reports.  Lopez, however, said they are covered by another law  and are required by the Commission on Audit to liquidate their funds.

Councilor El Cid Familiaran also said he believes there is no need to include the barangays because they are mandated to liquidate the funds within 30 days according to  the memorandum of agreement they had entered into  with the city.

VOTING

A division of the house followed and those who voted in the affirmative were Councilors Lopez, Familiaran,  Em Ang, Caesar Distrito, and Roberto Rojas, while those who voted in the negative were Councilors Puentevella, Sonya Verdeflor, Archie Baribar, Wilson Gamboa Jr. and Noli Villarosa.

Councilors Ana Marie Palermo and Alex Paglumotan abstained, while Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue was not present.

Familiaran said he voted in the affirmative because he had authored a similar resolution during the previous administration, which was unanimously approved by the SP, requesting the Silver MassKara Foundation to also submit a financial report.

But  before the votation,  Distrito requested for a recess in case some councilors would change their minds.

Lopez reportedly asked what were they afraid of. He said tension arose when Puentevella asked him if he already agreed to the proposed amendments to the resolution. Although he  said yes, Puentevella may not have heard it so he was asked what was his answer.

CHALLENGED?

He said that when he told Puentevella,   "You are not listening," the latter stood up and allegedly attempted to punch him,  and challenged him to a fight outside the session hall.

When he stood up, other members of the SP tried to stop them, Lopez said.

Puentevella was stopped by Gasataya, while Lopez was held back by Distrito, and  other councilors also tried to pacify  them.

'QUADRO DE JACK'

Lopez said he told Puentevella that he is ready to fight him, and  even the "Quadro de Jack",  a term referring to the four sons of the mayor. 

He said he believes Puentevella is angry at him because of the cases he has filed against his father, Mayor Monico Puentevella.

"I do not hate him even when they filed a case against me regarding the patrol boat, which was just fabricated," he said.

Lopez had filed complaints against the mayor regarding the sale of used clothing (ukay-ukay) at the plaza for which the National Bureau of Investigation recently filed a case before the Ombudsman, as well as the case involving the body sticker numbers being required of public utility jeepneys.

When asked about the incident in an interview over Aksyon Radyo,

Councilor Puentevella said he believes there are other more important issues to discuss, since he is busy with budget hearings and the tax valuation.

All he is asking for is mutual respect,  the way he is showing respect to other people regardless of  their status in life, he said.  "Do not rate yourself as if you are somebody. All of us should be treated equal," he added, but did not specify to whom he was referring.

CHALLENGE DENIED

Councilor Puentevella also said  it is not true that he was sent out of the session hall. If there is a problem, he said he believes  it  should be settled outside and not inside the session hall.

He denied challenging Lopez to a fight.

"Let us go back to work. My fellow councilors know that I am trying to do my job well," he said.

Gasataya said the Philippine Ports Authority was not able to give a presentation yesterday because he adjourned the session at about 2:20 p.m.  since  the atmosphere was no longer conducive.*CGS

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