Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto called for calm following a heated debate in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan over the council’s internal rules and procedures.
The tension arose during the first regular session on July 7 when Vice Governor Hermilando Mandanas rejected a committee report endorsing the internal rules.
Santos-Recto emphasized that while differing opinions are part of a functioning democracy, disagreements should be resolved quickly and according to proper parliamentary procedures.
The report was previously approved by the council’s committee on ethics and governance, but Mandanas insisted that a committee report can only be submitted after the committee hearing ends.
The provincial council is largely composed of members from the Nacionalista Party, which also includes Santos-Recto and Mandanas.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 18, 2025
