Councilor punches colleague during city council session in Bacolod

Well, someone has anger issues.

A Bacolod councilor punched a colleague at a city council session yesterday after a heated argument, reports stated — and it was caught on camera too.

The two politicians involved were Councilor Claudio “Kalaw” Puentevella and Councilor Dindo Ramos.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Puentevella and Ramos were arguing about the proposed construction work for the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City.

In a Facebook video posted by the Bacolod City Public Information Office, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran can be heard calling for a recess when Puentevella and Ramos lock eyes in the background and walk towards each other.

Puentevella threw the first punch that landed on Ramos’ left cheek.

Ramos tried to get a jab in but they were quickly pacified by fellow councilors in the session hall. Puentevella was excluded for the remainder of the session.

Sunstar reported that Ramos sustained a bruise on his left cheek.

The same report states that Ramos will file charges against Puentevella for direct assault.

“It is unfortunate that it happened between the members of the city council. It is un-parliamentary and unprecedented. It’s the first time that it happened in the city council, a councilor boxed his colleague inside the session hall. It tarnishes the image of the city council,” Councilor Caesar Distrito, majority floor leader and chairperson of the city council committee on laws, told Sunstar.