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Saturday, May 03, 2008
Lawmaker: Redistricting Iloilo City depends on voters
By Jay Dooma Balnig
ILOILO CITY -- Third District Representative Arthur Defensor Sr. has expressed support to the proposed House Bill (HB) 3672, which mandates city voters to decide on the approval of redistricting the city.
Arroyo Watch: Sun.Star blog on President Arroyo
Defensor said a plebiscite, which gives voters the right to choose, will be conducted should HB 3672 be passed at the Lower House and at the Senate.
Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. sponsored the said house bill, which is aimed at dividing Iloilo City into two congressional districts: Mandurriao-Jaro-Lapaz-Lapuz on the first district, and City Proper-Molo-Arevalo for the second district.
Defensor, in an interview, said after the committee's approval, the bill is yet to pass the plenary and should the Lower House approve it, it will be transmitted to the Senate's Committee on Local Government under Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino.
He added that if the Senate approves the said bill, the voters of Iloilo City are still the ones to decide whether to divide Iloilo City or not through a plebiscite.
Defensor gave the assurance that he is going to support HB 3672 in the Lower House level should it comply with all the requirements.
Defensor, however, could not exactly give the time table until the possible plebiscite be conducted in Iloilo City. He said it might be done before the 2010 elections.
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Legal Office lawyer, Ferdinand Panes, said councilors on their last term would be eligible for reelection on 2010 should the said redistricting prospers.
There would also be two congressional districts in Iloilo City and two congressmen.
It was earlier reported that Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, who is Gonzalez's ally and is on his last term, is eyeing a higher political position in the 2010 polls, while Representative Gonzalez remains eligible for another term.
When the division prospers, the two allies could run in the two separate districts.
Gonzalez was not reached for comment on the said issue. (JDB/Sunnex)
(May 3, 2008 issue)
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