THE national president of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (LBP) stressed here that “loss of confidence” is not one of the grounds for removing any official from the league’s 1,700 chapters all over the country.

James Marty Lim president of the League of Barangays of the Philippines told the city council here on Monday that there are 14 grounds where an officer of the barangay leagues may be removed but loss of confidence is definitely not one of them.

These grounds are specified in the constitution and by-laws of the national barangay league that was adopted based on the Local Government Code and the Constitution, he intoned.

He said this was the reason he did not act on the petition of 29 of the 31 barangay captains who sought a new election after turning their backs on Dagupan City Councilor and Tambac barangay captain Eric Muñoz, president of the local Liga ng mga Barangay.

Despite the letter of Lim addressed to the 29 barangay captains, they proceeded with their reorganization, also ignoring the advise from the Department of Interior and Local Government on the matter.

Pointing out that the petition against Muñoz was not in accordance with the processes prescribed in their constitution and by-laws, Lim said he did not issue clearance to the reorganization nor issued confirmation to the result.

Lim said that had he acted on the petition, it would have created a bad precedent as most of the 1,700 barangay league chapters all of the country may also seek reorganization.

“We have a constitution and by-laws that is meant to be followed and not meant to be broken,” said Lim who declared that Muñoz remained as president of the league of barangays in Dagupan, to the applause of members of the city council.

He warned all other barangay chapters in the country to seek clearance first from his office before making any reorganization. (PNA)