Cotabato City—October 2024—Vice Mayor Johari “Butch” Abu has issued a strong statement condemning the actions of Mayor Bruce Matabalao, accusing him of disrespecting the independence of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) and spreading misinformation.
In a session held on the morning of October 20, the City Council began proceedings at 9:20 AM, with Councilor Kusin Taha presiding. However, due to the lack of a quorum, the council decided to adjourn at 9:35 AM after briefly attempting to continue with only five councilors present. The council had also agreed to invite department heads again for the next session.
At 10:08 AM, Mayor Matabalao entered the session hall without invitation, even though the session had already adjourned. The only remaining council member was Councilor Popoy Formento. The mayor then held a press conference within the session hall, an action Vice Mayor Abu described as the “height of disrespect” towards the City Council.
Further controversy arose when Mayor Matabalao posted on his official social media page, falsely claiming that only Councilor Formento had attended the session. Vice Mayor Abu called this statement a deliberate deception, clarifying that five councilors, including the presiding officer, were in attendance.
Vice Mayor Abu also criticized Mayor Matabalao for disregarding the standard processes of the City Council, especially when it comes to pushing his requests for approval without going through proper scrutiny. He reminded the mayor that the council is a co-equal branch of the Executive Department and should not be subjected to harassment or manipulation.
In his closing remarks, Vice Mayor Abu vowed to investigate Mayor Matabalao’s actions under the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials, emphasizing that the City Council will not be intimidated or deceived by the mayor’s actions.
The dispute between the Executive and Legislative branches of Cotabato City’s local government highlights the importance of respecting institutional independence and adhering to proper legislative procedures.
