A brief shouting match on Wednesday, November 24, highlighted a hearing by a committee of the Santo Tomas Sangguniang Bayan (SB) on alleged corruption in the town’s quarry operation.

The verbal scuffle happened as Councilor Julie Mantequilla, chair of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources who presided over the hearing, cut short Councilor Richard Languido in the middle of his speech and declared him “out of order” as Languido lambasted the Municipal Information Office (MIO) over a press release that he said insulted members of the SB. VIEW VIDEO

Mantequilla interrupted Languido, pointing out that the councilor was straying out of the matter at hand that pertains to quarry operation.

Languido’s beef was over a press release by the MIO that he said disparaged the image of the members of the SB.

The press release entitled “Soil Analaysis Laboratory or 8 Vehicles WorthP11.2 -M?”, was posted by MIO on Noember 17. The news item was the subject of a scathing privilege speech against MIO delivered by Councilor Cromwell Cocamas on November 22, Monday, as the SB tackled the 2022 annual budget.

It was also on that Monday that Cocamas called for a probe on alleged corruption in the operation of quarries for which the environment committee held on November 24, a hearing that led to the verbal clash between Languido, Cocamas and committee chair Mantequilla.

Mr. Languido, I would like to remind you that we are discussing Item number 3,” Mantequilla told Languido. The quarry operation was Item No.3 in the agenda of the commitee hearing.

But Languido dismissed the presiding offcer’s reminder, insisting that he has the right to say his piece.

“No, You are out of order! You are out of order, sir! I’m sorry,” Mantequillla, raising his voice, told Languido, who was forced to back off from continuing with his speech.

Minutes before Languido was censured for his disordely behavior, Mantequilla also cut off Cocamas who also scored MIO for the press release that he said insulted the members of the SB.

The press release pertained to an P11.2 million budgetary allocation in the P611 Million 2022 annual budget.

The MIO presss release posed a question as to which project the budget would go: Cars for each member of the SB or a major agricultural project.

Cocamas said the MIO press release made it appear that the members of the SB are greedy and could use the fund to buy cars for themselves.

In assailing the MIO, Cocamas said he was reiterating his privilege speech at the SB session on November 22, Monday, where he lashed out at the press office.

He said he was asking why MIO is “victimizing” SB members with “insulting” press releases and posts in social media.

Like Languido, Mantequilla also stopped him from his attack on the MIO and to limit discussion on the subject of quarry operations.

While the hearing ended without any finding on the alleged corruption in the operation of quarries as claimed by Cocamas , it was instead revealed that share of Santo Tomas muncipality increased tremendously during the administration of Mayor Ernesto Evangelista.