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Tuesday, April 18, 2006
2 barangays move to hold off plebiscite
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
TWO barangays are preparing a suit in court against the City Government of Cagayan de Oro to stay the holding of plebiscites on the breaking up of their areas.
Commission on Election (Comelec) Cagayan de Oro election officer Estalin Baguio announced that the plebiscites in barangays Tablon and Kauswagan are to be conducted as scheduled this Saturday.
However, he said, "There is a Comelec en banc tomorrow (Tuesday), we will know whether it will push through or not tomorrow."
Barangay chairmen Roger Abaday of Kauswagan and Teodulfo "Bong" Lao of Lapasan met with opposition lawyers Butch Bagabuyo and Frederico Gapuz last week at PhilTown Hotel.
They discussed moves to file a declaratory relief with prayer for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order (TRO) against the City Government ordinance mandating the holding of plebiscites to divide their barangays.
Officials in Barangays Kauswagan, Tablon, Balulang, and Lapasan said City Hall's ordinance was passed without complying with the requirements set by the Local Government Code.
They referred to the "failed" Ordinance 8163-2002 creating the barangays of Bongbongon, Baloy, Macanhan and Taguanao as separate and distinct local government units carved out from the Kauswagan, Tablon, Carmen and Indahag.
Abaday said this ordinance did not see full realization because Indahag at that time did not meet the population requirement for the division and creation of a new barangay.
"Here we can also see that it has been the ambition of (Mayor Vicente) Emano to divide opposition-led barangays as even Barangay Indahag with its small population was among those to be divided," he added.
Order
Bagabuyo said they are moving for the nullification of the new ordinance that calls for the creation of barangays Bongbongon and Baloy out from Kauswagan and Tablon.
He said they are also seeking for a court order to stay the holding of the plebiscite this Saturday.
"Once the ordinance is declared illegal and thus does not create any right, obligation, or effect, the entire move of Dongkoy (mayor) to divide these barangays will also be declared as illegal," he said.
Abaday said that though there were moves and announcements made by Emano to defer the plebiscite in Kauswagan and Tablon this Saturday, still they are not taking any chances.
He said they are currently conducting information sessions on the disadvantages of dividing Barangay Kauswagan.
"Just to make sure we are filing a suit in court to stop Comelec-CDO from pushing through with the plebiscite this Saturday," he said.
Earlier, the opposition accused Emano of trying to divide the territorial integrity and population of barangays whose officials are identified with the opposition under the "principle of divide and conquer."
Served
They are convinced that the division of Barangay Kauswagan would result to lesser socio-political and economic stability and development, divide strong family ties, lower historical value, and would only be for the promotion of Emano's "political grandeur."
The opposition said part of Emano and his cohorts' political agenda is to divide barangays whose voters have opted to be "publicly served" under opposition-aligned officials.
"Emano wants not only Charter change but also chopping-off barangays that are with the opposition," Abaday said.
According to Abaday, only barangay councilman Nicasio Reyes has been promoting the concept that there should be a plebiscite and that Kauswagan should be divided with Sitio Bongbungon severed from it.
Abaday, Cahoy, Bautista, and Pimentel told the media Monday how they were only caught by surprise with Emano's plans to divide their barangays.
They said it was only on April 3 that they were informed by Reyes that there is a scheduled barangay plebiscite this April 22 to divide their barangay.
The group also suspected the motives of Reyes who only raised the matter of the plebiscite after their meeting has adjourned last April 3 or barely 20 days before the plebiscite.
They said the plan to separate Sitio Bungbongon from the mother barangay is "not an initiative of the residents of the barangay but of Emano and his city officials."
(April 18, 2006 issue)
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