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Facts:
Last May 10, 2010 elections, one of the Barangay Council members was elected Municipal
Councilor, thus causing a permanent vacancy in the Sangguniang Barangay. The Barangay
council then conducted an election thru a secret balloting held on a special session dated
July 5, 2010, declared Mrs. Mary Ann Echano as winner against two others who applied
for recommendation. Thereafter, a resolution recommending her for appointment of the
Municipal Mayor was submitted, resulting to her appointment as Barangay Kagawad.
Issues:
1. Mayroon na po bang Guidelines na nagsasaad ng pamamaraan sa filling-up of
permanent vacancy sa Sangguniang Barangay?
2. May bias ba ang isinagawang botohan ng Sangguniang Barangay sa pagpili
samantalang ang pamamaraan nito ay labag sa Sec. 42 Rule VIII ng kanilang Internal
Rules of Procedure, kung saan nakasaad dito na (a) No ordinance or resolution passed
by the sanggunian shall be valid unless approved by a majority of the member present,
there being a quorum, (b) upon the passage of all Ordinances or Resolution the
sanggunian secretary shall record the YEAS and NAYS sa kabila nito, isinagawa and
botohan sa pamamagitan ng secret balloting, at (k) naaayon ba sa kanilang rules na
payagang mag-abstain and isang miyembro ng Sangguniang Barangay;
3. Naaangkop po ba kay SK Chairman Echano (anak ng isa sa mga pinagpiliang i-aappoint na kagawad) ang DILG OP. No. 26, s. 2005?
4. May legal po bang basehan kung hihilingin naming na mag-inhibit si SK Chairman
Echano sa pagdedesisyon sa isyung ito dahil sa conflict of interest?
5. Maaari bang maitalaga bilang Barangay Kagawad si Gng. Echano matapos na siya ay iterminate for cause ni PB Yarte?
6. Ang pag-appoint po ba ng Punong Bayan sa inirekomenda ng Sangguninag Barangay
alinsunod sa Sec. 45 ng Local Governmentr Code of 1991 ay ministerial o discretionary?
At sakali pongtumanggi ang Punong Bayan na i-appoint ang inirekomenda ng
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Opinion:
On issues No. 1 and 2, may we invite your attention to the express provisions of
Section 45 (a) (3) of the Local Government Code which generally provides for the manner
of filling-up vacancies in the sangguniang barangay, to wit:
SEC. 45. Permanent Vacancies in the Sanggunian.- (a)
Permanent vacancies in the sanggunian where automatic
successions provided above do not apply shall be filled by
appointment in the following manner:
xxx
xxx
xxx
Mrs. Echano as Sangguniang Barangay Member to fill up the permanent vacancy in your
Sangguniang Barangay.
Along this line, it is not amiss to point out that the appointment issued by the
Mayor, under the Rules on Evidence, enjoys the presumption of regularity and,
therefore, has to be given effect and respect. Thus, any person questioning the
appointment for being legally infirmed or having made not in accordance with
law, has to go to court for its invalidation. Hence, unless the court shall declare it
to be void, such appointment has to be afforded respect and efficacy and the
Punong Barangay thereat, regardless of her impression as to the legality of the
appointment, is not at liberty to unilaterally construe it to be invalid sans the
court declaration to that effect. If the Punong Barangay believes that the
appointment is invalid, recourse is to be had before the court for its invalidation.
Meantime, adhering to the rule of law, the Punong Barangay has to respect and
give effect to the appointment. (DILG OP 31, s. 2007)
Hence, the appointment made by the Hon. Tito S. Sarion to Mrs. Mary Ann Echano as
Barangay Kagawad of Barangay Camambugan shall be considered valid unless
invalidated in a case filed before the proper forum.
For your guidance.
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