longcuts

Anybody who wants to be amused, better read this.
City kagawad Dandan Bantugan claims there is a provision in the city sanggunian house rules that requires the use of English in the deliberation of the august body.
So when city kagawad Djingo Rama started talking or wanted a resource person to talk in the vernacular, he butted in and invoked the rules.
Sparks flew because Djingo Rama reportedly insisted on speaking in the vernacular.
You see, even the use of English or the task of following simple instructions can become a potential source of heated debates.
Obviously, Djingo Rama is not comfortable with the English language, he would rather have it in the vernacular. He must be thinking that it was okay and it was well within his rights.
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But if it is true that house rules mandate the use of English language in sanggunian deliberations, then by all means city kagawad Djingo Rama has to comply.
He cannot just make his own rules. In fact, he is bound to follow the rules because they were purposely formulated to ensure a smooth and orderly deliberation.
If he cannot follow this basic instruction, assuming there is such a rule, then he ought to shut his mouth off and preside the committee on silence.
Moreover, I can foresee a big problem if Djingo Rama is given liberty to use whatever language or dialect he fancies.
Everybody knows that the proceedings in the sanggunian or its committees are recorded. Every word spoken, even gestures are supposed to be recorded.
In fact, I know of one vice mayor who insists that coughs, sneezes, laughters, including that terrible ahem and other similar verbal gestures should be recorded in the official transcript.
He justified this as a recording of what actually transpired during the sanggunian deliberations. Short of that, he said, and the transcript of proceedings becomes an edited version.
Okay, let’s go back to Djingo Rama.
Supposing Djingo Rama will deliver his message in the vernacular, what will be recorded by the secretariat?
Naturally, the very words spoken by Djingo Rama.
In the process of translation, the issue of competence of the translator will come into play. That, plus the fact that there are words in the vernacular which are susceptible of different meanings or interpretations.
As such, there is big possibility that in the final copy, the original intention might be lost.
I don’t think Djingo Rama would like that to happen.
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The controversy over the use of English language is not the only amusing thing, though.
In Friday’s regular session, the sanggunian decided to informally invite city accountant Kurt Bungabong to explain about the unreleased financial assistance to the barangays.
Informal, because there was no formal invitation sent to him. He was seen walking down from the 3rd floor so he was invited right there and then.
After Bungabong has explained the issue, city kagawad Djingo Rama must have thought it the right time to ventilate an issue that has long been pestering his mind.
So Djingo Rama asked Bungabong to explain why he answered Rama’s letter in a way that Rama considered as disrespectful or words to that effect.
Even before Bungabong could answer, city kagawad Oscar Glovasa butted in and questioned the propriety of Rama’s conduct.
Out of order, Glovasa boomed, because Bungabong was invited for a specific purpose only. He stressed that Bungabong was not there to entertain any issue that the city kagawads may fancy.
To some observers, they thought Djingo Rama was merely
“nag-inato” because he forgot to reflect on the house rules.
House rules na sab!
Well anyway, when things cooled down a bit between Glovasa and Rama, another heated argument broke out.
This time it was between Rama and FABC president Faro Cabalit. Sources told Longcuts minus the cooler heads and hands, there would have been a terrible verbal spat or worst, a fist fight.
Wonderful. That would have been a first.
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Longcuts is glad that RTC Judge Teofilo Baluma readily admitted that he erred when he stated in his January 189, 2009 Order that the city mayor of Tagbilaran worked out for his removal “in cohort of the past officialdom of the IBP….”
During our interview with Judge Baluma in Kwentas Claras, Judge Flux admitted that he only noted a semblance but has no direct proof about the alleged involvement of the IBP.
He was referring to an incident during my incumbency as president of IBP-Bohol when the judicial audit was conducted. This judicial audit resulted to the transfer of the family court from branch 1 under Judge Baluma to branch 3 under Judge Venancio Amila.
I made it clear to Judge Baluma that during such judicial audit, his lawyer-son was also a member of the IBP board. So his son ought to know if IBP-Bohol was somehow involved.
I also told Judge Baluma that in fact, I purposely asked Atty. Rullyn Garcia, the head of the team that conducted the judicial audit, to attend and explain the reason for the audit during the meeting of the IBP board at JJs Seafood Village where his lawyer-son was also present. That was intended to clear up things.
Anyway, there were several things that transpired during that time and immediately thereafter that should make an interesting reading in this column.
But for now, I see no need to open my mind further.
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What do Senator Chiz Escudero and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap have in common?
Both have visited Bohol recently.
Both are said to be entertaining political ambitions in 2010, Chiz as president and Arthur as congressman of the 3rd district.
And both said “trabaho muna” when asked about their political plans in 2010.
Sources told me Chiz will get full support from NPC chair Danding Cojuangco and taipan Lucio Tan, said to be an uncle and godfather. If true, Chiz should find it very easy to plaster his face on TV many times of the day or night.
Expect a lot of news coverage for Chiz these days.
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Governor Aumentado said works for the Panglao airport project will start this coming July. He did not mention the year but I hope he meant it to be July 2009. This is similar to his promise to Vice Governor Julius Herrera that he would be the governor in the next elections.
When asked about this, he quipped did I say when?
The governor said that instead of a concrete runway, he was advised that an asphalt runway with European standards is better and quicker. The Iloilo airport is a prime example.
Apparently convinced about the viability of the asphalt runway, the governor said before the term of the president ends, and so with his term as governor, there will be a soft inauguration of the project.
Lisod na kon dili ta maapil sa lapida. Kita maoy nagtanom unya di ta maapil sa pagpupo, the governor said.
More when we return, stay tuned for more.