Magalang councilors seek DILG legal opinion on vice mayor’s action delaying release of P17-M fund
(From left) Magalang Councilors Noel Sunga, Prince Gerald Baluyut, Junnel Malonzo, Nelson Dizon, and June Marimla (from left) at the DILG office shortly after submitting their letter seeking the legal opinion of the DILG.
By Joey Pavia
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The majority of the councilors of Magalang town in Pampanga are seeking the legal opinion of the Department of
the Interior and Local Government (DILG) regarding the alleged inappropriate action of Vice Mayor Eller Pecson that reportedly delayed the release of a P17-million supplemental budget intended for less fortunate residents of the municipality.
“Request for legal opinion on the ruling of the presiding officer (Pecson) referring the Supplemental Annual Investment Program (AIP) to the committee of the whole and acting as its chairman when the Internal Rules of Procedure clearly do not contain any provision for a committee of the whole,” said Councilors Junnel Malonzo, June Tanglao, Prince Gerald Baluyut, Nelson Dizon, Noel Sunga, June Marimla, and Brandon Stephen Aquino in a letter addressed to DILG Regional Director Araceli San Jose and submitted on June 16, 2026.
“During our regular session on June 11, 2026, the presiding officer (Pecson) ruled to refer the Supplemental Annual Investment Program (AIP) to the ‘committee of the whole.’ This was challenged by the chairman of the Committee on Governance, Rules, Ethics and Institutional Development stating that there is no committee of the whole under the Internal Rules of Procedure of the 12th Sangguniang Bayan but the presiding officer insisted on his ruling. During the debate, another councillor claimed that committee referral is the prerogative of the presiding officer, who can act as chairman of all standing committees of the SB,” they added in the letter.
“Definitely, the less fortunate residents of Magalang are the ones suffering from this inappropriate action of Vice Mayor Pecson. They
are being denied immediate financial assistance in the wake of the crisis brought about by the war in the Middle East,” said Malonzo, Baluyut, Dizon, Sunga, and Marimla, who personally delivered the letter of the seven councillors to the DILG regional office here.
They also submitted to San Jose a copy of the Internal Rules of Procedure of the 12th Sangguniang Bayan, which was approved by all
members of the SB last year.
Malonzo disclosed that the majority of the P17-million supplemental fund should have been immediately distributed to senior citizens, farmers, persons with disabilities, public utility drivers, and other beneficiaries under the supervision of Mayor Malu Lacson.
“The vice mayor wants to take credit in the wrong way before releasing the funds,” said Sunga. He and the six other councillors said the matter should have been referred to the Committee on Budget, Finance and Appropriations chaired by Tanglao.
Lacson needs authorization from the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) before she can distribute the funds.
Pecson could not be reached for comment.
