The Bangkok Council President refuted the controversy over the card-pressing clip and Chotiwat Park, affirming that procedures were conducted transparently. She raised doubts that Democrat councilors are stirring political controversy for their own benefit.
On 14 Nov 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Phattharaphon Kengrungreungchai, President of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council and councilor for Bang Sue district from the People's Party, clarified facts regarding Mr. Napapol Jirakul, a Democrat councilor, who accused her performance as Bangkok Council President and Bang Sue councilor. She affirmed she acted according to rules and laws transparently and questioned the intent behind communications that might mislead the public.
Ms. Phattharaphon stated that Mr. Napapol, a long-serving councilor, is well aware of the Bangkok Council President's rules and roles, including that the President has no authority to intervene or sit on the Ethics Committee. Yet, he persistently links and attacks the position of Council President. She therefore clarified two main points.
1. Disclosure of the card-pressing voting clip: Mr. Napapol requested the clip, stating it was for a complaint to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). In fact, he had already filed with the NACC previously, allowing NACC to request evidence directly from the Bangkok Council through normal procedures. Similarly, the Council has already provided all evidence to the Ministry of Interior upon request.
However, since evidence was requested while the Council's own investigation was ongoing, as Council President I referred the matter to the Ethics Committee for review and responded to Mr. Napapol on 9 Oct 2026 GMT+7.
The Ethics Committee, chaired by Mr. Narisorn Saengkaew, 1st Deputy Council President (Independent), includes the chairpersons of all 14 permanent committees, totaling 15 members. Representatives from all political parties, including Democrat councilors like Mr. Pinit Kanjanachusak who joined Mr. Napapol’s press conference on 12 Nov, are members. Therefore, if Mr. Napapol wants a live broadcast or a resolution to release the clip, he can independently coordinate for Democrat councilors on the Ethics Committee to propose it at a meeting without any involvement from the Council President.
2. The Chotiwat Community Park improvement project in Bang Sue: Ms. Phattharaphon affirmed that as Bang Sue councilor, she has continuously monitored and inspected the use of funds for the park and other local projects. She has formally requested the Bang Sue district office to inspect and rectify construction standards. This oversight role is separate from and unrelated to the district office’s budget disbursement to contractors.
Ms. Phattharaphon concluded that since the People's Party assumed leadership of the Bangkok Council and the special budget committee chairmanship, concrete transparency measures have been promoted over the first three months. These include public budget oversight activities ('Hack Bangkok Budget'), amending meeting rules to disclose individual councilors’ voting records, and live streaming all committee meetings. These prove that the Council President's role is genuinely to protect public interests, not a tool for political bargaining. She hopes the public will see the true intent behind political groups attempting to distort and attack the Council's work.