𝗦𝘁𝗮.𝗥𝗼𝘀𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗻𝗮 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿

Following an earlier ethics complaint filed by 3rd District Board Member Angelica Jones Alarva , another member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan formally sought during Monday’s SP Laguna session the filing of an ethics complaint against a fellow board member over alleged disorderly behavior and actions he said were contrary to the rules, processes, and dignity of the provincial legislative body.

Santa Rosa City Board Member Jose “Peping” Cantos Cartaño raised the matter before the Sanggunian, stressing that his move should not be viewed as a matter of personality, politics, or partisan affiliation, but as an issue involving institutional authority, established procedures, and accountability within the provincial legislature.

“Hindi ito usapin ng personalidad. Hindi ito usapin ng politika. Hindi ito usapin ng panig o kulay. Ito ay usapin ng institusyon. Ito ay usapin ng proseso. Ito ay usapin ng prinsipyo,” Cartaño said.

Cartano invoked the principle of legislative independence while recognizing the executive prerogative of the provincial governor, emphasizing that each branch and institution must respect the boundaries of authority vested in it.

He likewise stressed that members of the Sanggunian must follow the rules and procedures collectively adopted by the provincial legislative body.

“Tayo ang gumagawa ng mga alituntunin. Tayo ang nagtatakda ng mga proseso. Tayo ang nagpapatibay ng mga patakaran. At tayo rin ang unang dapat magpakita ng pagsunod sa mga ito,” he said.

According to Cartaño, allowing individual decisions to prevail over collective decisions of the Sanggunian could weaken the institution and raise questions about the consistency and credibility of its processes.

He maintained that his action was not motivated by personal resentment or political considerations.

“Ginagawa ko ito dahil naniniwala akong walang sinuman sa atin ang mas mataas kaysa sa mga alituntuning tayo rin mismo ang nagpatibay,” Cartaño said.

Cartaño formally asked, through the presiding officer, for the filing of an ethics complaint against Board Member Karla Adajar-Lajara over the alleged disorderly behavior and other acts he described as inconsistent with the rules, processes, and dignity of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

The development comes after Alarva-Jones earlier filed an ethics complaint involving Adajar-Lajara , placing renewed attention on conduct, procedure, and accountability within the provincial legislative body.

With more than one ethics-related complaint now being raised publicly by members of the Sanggunian, a question also emerges: What is driving the growing number of internal complaints within the provincial legislature, and what does this mean for the institution’s rules, relationships, and proceedings?

That question, however, remains separate from the merits of the individual complaints, which must be determined through the appropriate institutional process.

The latest complaint remains an allegation unless and until established through proper proceedings. The respondent should likewise be given the opportunity to answer the accusations and present their side