Sorsogon City Councilor Laura resigns; Not yet accepted by City Council

A Sorsogon City councilor filed his resignation, but the City Council has not yet accepted his resignation pending legal documentation.

As backgrounder, as early as February 28, 2021, East District City Councilor Attorney Joven Laura submitted his resignation to the Office of the Vice-Mayor.

“Resignation with condition”

The letter of resignation has condition for acceptance that it will take “effect upon appointment and assumption of office of the person who would be filling up of the vacancy that his resignation might create”

This pre-condition, he said, is to prevent hiatus in the government service.

Why he sent his resignation to the Sangguniang Panglungsod is in
accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Code, Section 82”a(3)“ for the body to accept and to avoid being charged for abandonment as provided for in Article 238 of the Revised Penal Code.”

Laura is on his last term of office as one of the four representatives of the East district in the City Council, and as a lawyer handles legal issues hounding the Council, and referral for actions by the body involving legalities.

“Another letter effecting resignation”

This letter of second instant by Laura dated June 1, 2021, emphasizes that his resignation of February 28 be considered effective immediately upon acceptance by the Sangguniang Panglungsod, and may disregard the condition he imposed on his letter of first instant.

According to him he was given an assurance that the appointment of the person to replace him in the council would be done accordingly, paving the way for him to withdraw his condition.

“Not yet resigned”

The Sangguniang Panglungsod has not yet accepted his resignation without an appropriate resolution accepting his resignation which they will forward to DILG for recording.

The reasons why he opted to resign was because he will be attending to the properties of his parents located in Magallanes, and that his transfer of residence in the said town will hinder him to perform his duties and obligations as an elected city councilor for East District.

He further reasoned that his transfer of residence by operation of law will automatically disqualify him from holding an elected position in Sorsogon City.