MANILA, Philippines - The Pasay City Council's bid to intervene in the battle over the city's controversial reclamation plan hits a snag, leaving the project -- proposed by SM and contested by Ayala Land -- in limbo. The Council had set an en banc hearing for Thursday, after Ayala Land and another potential bidder petitioned for one. But the hearing was reset to Monday next week, after some of the 14 councilors begged off. "Kulang po yung membership ng Sanggunian kasi may appointment po yung iba. Since en banc po yan, dapat kumpleto sila... Basta yun po ang advice sa akin, i-recall ko yung invitation kasi hindi makukumpleto yung members ng Sanggunian," Raoul Domacia, a clerk at Pasay City Hall, said. Before the City Council scheduled a hearing, the controversy stayed at the level of the Pasay bid committee. The bid committee had earlier rejected Ayala's petition to extend a November 4 deadline to challenge SM's proposal, prompting Ayala to run to the City Council. But what can the City Council do? It's complicated. The City Council says it can reject contracts awarded by the bid committee, though the mayor can veto that. But the Council can override the mayor's veto. Pasay's mayor is Antonino Calixto, who is from the Liberal Party, while the City Council's presiding officer is vice mayor Marlon Pesebre, who's from UNA --- the party led by Vice President Jejomar Binay. Binay's office two weeks ago said the reclamation project could pose a security threat to the "Coconut Palace", the official residence of the Vice President. A council member says the City Council will make the final decision. "Nagpatawag tayo ng hearing para maka-gather ng information... Yung awards yan eh, gagawa sila ng kontrata and then ipapa-ratify nila dito. kung meron silang napili, ipapanhik nila. kung ok naman at hindi advantageous to the city government, then we will ratify the contract," said Richard Advincula, Pasay City councilor. It means the board room battle may become a city hall war.