Politics · Philippines Bureau
Puerto Galera councilor seeks DILG help after privilege speech blocked
A municipal councilor in Oriental Mindoro has petitioned the Department of the Interior and Local Government after being prevented from delivering remarks during a recent Sangguniang Bayan session. The incident has raised questions about parliamentary procedure in the local legislative body.
LSN Philippines ·
CALAPAN CITY — Municipal Councilor Aristeo 'Aries' Atienza of Puerto Galera has formally requested intervention from the Department of the Interior and Local Government following his exclusion from delivering a privilege speech at the Sangguniang Bayan's regular session on Monday, August 24.
Atienza stated he was barred from presenting remarks he had prepared for the legislative body's proceedings. The councilor did not elaborate on the specific reasons cited by session officials for preventing his speech, nor the content he intended to address.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about the conduct of local legislative sessions in Oriental Mindoro municipalities. The DILG, which oversees local government units nationwide, has authority to review compliance with parliamentary rules and procedures in Sangguniang Bayan operations.
No official statement has yet been issued by the Puerto Galera municipal government or the Sangguniang Bayan addressing the matter. The DILG has not publicly confirmed receipt of Atienza's petition or indicated whether it will conduct an investigation.