SK chairman files complaint vs Manila Vice Mayor Servo, councilors over ouster

MANILA, Philippines – Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Chairman Juliana “Yanyan” Ibay has filed a complaint against Manila Vice Mayor Yul Servo and other councilors, contesting the council’s decision to remove her as chairman of the Committee on Youth Welfare and Development during what she describes as a “secret session.”

As the SK Federation president, she is legally entitled to her position as chairman of the youth committee under Section 22 of the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Act of 2015 and Section 50 of the Local Government Code, Ibay said in her complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday, September 20.

“It sets a dangerous precedent for each and every SK official not only in the city of Manila but also in the entirety of the Philippines,” Ibay said.

The complaint alleges culpable violation of the Constitution, violation of the Local Government Code and the Sangguniang Kabataan Act of 2015, oppression and grave abuse of authority, misconduct in office, and unethical standards in public service.

Last July 23, Manila City Council majority floor leader Ernesto Isip Jr. moved to declare the seats vacant “in view of recent political events in the City of Manila.” This motion was approved by the council.

This motion effectively stripped council members, including Ibay, of their roles in various committees.

Ibay argued that the “secret session” was “illegal” because the 17 members of the City Council were not notified about the July 23 meeting, effectively depriving them of their rights to participate.

Ibay noted that the Manila City Council was also supposed to be on recess and was scheduled to resume on July 30 after the renovations to the session hall.

During a press conference last August 27, Servo dismissed these allegations, noting that the session was broadcast live on social media and attended by both majority and minority members.

However, in her complaint, Ibay pointed out that the motion to declare all seats vacant was not livestreamed. The session started at 2:35 pm but the online broadcast of the session began only at 2:39 pm, the SK chairman said.

The session also was held despite Malacañang’s declaration to suspend government work in