Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. proposed a resolution asking the DILG to conduct an impartial review of an Oct. 13, 2026 session dispute between Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Councilor Joel Garganera.
The confrontation occurred during Garganera’s privilege speech on solid waste management when Osmeña interrupted him after Garganera pressed for a waste plan requested 137 days prior.
The resolution requests that the City Council Secretary submit official minutes, transcripts, and video recordings to the DILG to evaluate standards governing parliamentary rules and legislative proceedings.
MEMBERS of the Cebu City Council are seeking an impartial review by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) of a heated exchange between Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Councilor Joel Garganera during a regular session last week, raising questions about parliamentary rules and the conduct of legislative proceedings.
A proposed resolution authored by Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. calls on the DILG, through its regional or field office, to evaluate the Oct. 13, 2026 incident and clarify applicable administrative and governance standards.
The resolution stems from a confrontation that occurred while Garganera was delivering a privilege speech on the solid waste management program of the Cebu City Government, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the local garbage problem.
Unanswered proposal
During his speech, Garganera pressed Osmeña on the status of a proposed waste management solution. He recalled that on May 26, the vice mayor had asked the City Council for 60 days to prepare a plan. Garganera said 137 days had passed without the document being presented to the legislative body, creating frustration over the delay.
Osmeña maintained that he had already submitted his proposal, adding that its implementation was up to Mayor Nestor Archival.
The exchange grew tense when Osmeña interrupted Garganera, prompting the latter to formally object to the disruption of his privilege speech. This incident halted the proceedings and raised questions about how the presiding officer exercised his authority over the legislative floor.
Parliamentary rules
In the proposed resolution, Alcover cited provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, which recognizes the powers and responsibilities of local government units and identifies the vice mayor as the presiding officer of the City Council.
The measure also referred to the internal rules of procedure of the City Council, emphasizing the need to uphold parliamentary courtesy, mutual respect and the rights of members to perform their legislative duties without obstruction.
Orderly proceedings
The document noted that a privilege speech allows a council member to bring matters of public interest to the attention of the legislative body, making the orderly exercise of this right essential to meaningful deliberation and public accountability.
The resolution stressed that the presiding officer must maintain order and enforce parliamentary discipline while ensuring that all elected members can discharge their duties without undue interference.
It also cited concerns raised by several council members over the interruption of a privilege speech, particularly when such disruptions lead to an open confrontation between elected officials on the floor.
Objective evaluation
The proposed resolution asks the Office of the City Council Secretary to provide the official minutes, video recordings, transcripts and other relevant records of the Oct. 13 session to fully support the assessment of the DILG.
The measure states that the requested review should be based entirely on official records, available video footage and other relevant evidence, ensuring an objective approach rather than prejudging the liability of any official.
The proposal further clarifies that the request is not intended to interfere with the institutional autonomy of the City Council in enforcing its own rules of procedure. Instead, it seeks to clarify the standards governing the conduct of legislative proceedings and help prevent similar incidents in future sessions.
If approved, copies of the resolution will be furnished to the DILG secretary, DILG 7, the appropriate DILG Cebu City field office and the respective offices of Osmeña and Garganera for their information and appropriate action.
The document bears the signature of Alcover, stating that the resolution was officially moved by him and duly seconded during the session. / CAV