Friday, August 26, 2005 (Philippines)

Sugbuak authors (from left) Reps. Simeon Kintanar, Clavel Martinez and Antonio Yapha. Rep. Antonio Cuenco (right) has confronted them with alleged violations of rules in creating a province.(Sun.star sketch/Rio Villegas, with Sun.star file) As officials continue to tangle on whether to hold a public hearing in Cebu, Rep. Antonio Cuenco yesterday filed a motion for the House committee on local government to suspend further action on the bills for Cebu del Sur, Cebu del Norte and Cebu Occidental. Deliberation on the proposals violated the instructions in the implementing rules for the creation of a province, which the House committee affairs department came up with for the House committee on local government. The last part of the instructions states: “The committee on local government shall calendar your bill for deliberation only upon completion of all of the requirements.” [full story]