Ejercito clarifies opposition 'walkout' during council session

San Juan Councilor Jana Ejercito on Tuesday vowed that the opposition members of the city council will not be a "destructive majority" in the administration of Mayor Francis Zamora.

This, despite the tension that marred the special session last week that was called for by Zamora himself.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Ejercito said they are willing to work with Zamora as long as he will be "transparent" and urged him to respect the opposition.

"Mayor Francis, let's be transparent. Sana maging totoo na lamang tayo lagi, huwag nating baliktarin yung mga nangyayari," Ejercito said.

"Being with the majority we assure you that we will work well with you. We won't be destructive as long as nasa tama lagi for the betterment of San Juan."

Eight of the 12 councilors of San Juan belong to the opposition.

Ejercito clarified reports that the majority walked out of a special session last Thursday, saying all of them arrived before 10 a.m.

She said they asked for a deferment when the agenda of the session — giving Zamora authority to sign checks for the salaries of city hall employees — was sidelined in favor of committee chairmanships.

Ejercito said they left city hall in the afternoon and didn't know the session would push through without them.

"Di namin alam na uumpisahan nila. Inumpisahan nila nung wala na kami kasi nung nandoon pa kami ayaw talaga nilang pumayag na i-defer yung sa mga chairmanships," she said.

The special session started at 3:30 p.m.

In a separate interview, Zamora said issue on who will lead the appropriations committee hounded the special session.

Contrary to Ejercito's claim that the opposition wanted her to lead the powerful committee, Zamora said even members of the majority wanted Councilor Totoy Bernardo to handle it.

"One very important aspect is yung appropriations committee kasi ang pondo ng San Juan ay nakasalalay sa appropriations committee na ito. Nung Huwebes, hindi rin sila magkasundo kung sino talaga ang gusto nilang appropriations chairman. " he said.

"Totoo na mas maraming konsehal na nanalo mula sa kabilang partido, subalit kahit yung mga konsehal sa kabilang partido ang gusto bilang appropriations chairman ay yung konsehal na kasama namin sa partido," Zamora added, referring to Bernardo who he said is a seven-term councilor who had handled the committee before.

Bernardo was elected as appropriations committee on Monday. —KBK, GMA News