Talisay, Bogo submit brgy assembly results

As the campaign on the proposals to change the Charter went full swing at the local government level, the city of Talisay and the town of Bogo are the only local government units in the province that have already submitted the results of last Saturday's barangay assembly.

As this develops, Cebu provincial election supervisor Edwin Cadungog said although there is already a memorandum issued by Atty. Alioden Dalaig, head of the Commission on Elections legal department, they could only verify signatures of those who signed for the people's initiative if the proponents of the move attached a letter to the petitions.

Cadungog said the letter should indicate the request for verification of the signatures supporting the initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution to prevent the use of the signatures for other purposes, such as to recall public officials from office.

Under the law, the Comelec is mandated to carry its ministerial function to verify signatures for application of people's initiative to amend the Constitution, Cadungog pointed out.

He said they would accept petitions and forms for initiative from anyone, even from a public official or government employee, as long as "government funds are not involved in facilitating" the move to get enough signatures to support such actions.

Cadungog, however, viewed the petition for people's initiative as being legally flawed because there is no law that amends the Constitution using such mode, as stated in the Supreme Court ruling in the Santiago et al versus Comelec et al case in 1997.

To date, no petition or any form for initiative amending the Constitution has reached their office, he said.

Reports received by the provincial office of the Department of Interior and Local Government said Bogo, the bailiwick of the Martinezes, reported that it has conducted a signature campaign for Charter change in all its 29 barangays. The town's incumbent mayor, Celestino Martinez III, is the son of Rep. Clavel Asas-Martinez who was formerly allied with the administration.

In Talisay City, the report sent to DILG indicated that its 22 barangays discussed not only the signature campaign but also the pros and cons of Charter change.

Unlike the Bogo barangays that only conducted signature campaign as indicated in its report, the Talisay City barangays tackled other urgent issues such as drug addiction, security, gender and development, and some health-related matters.

According to a DILG official who refused to be named, other LGUs in the province are expected to submit their reports on the barangay assembly by the end of this month.

In Cebu City, The Freeman repeatedly called up city interior and local government director Patricio Gabuya to know whether the 80 barangays have already submitted their report of the assembly.

Acting Association of Barangay Councils president Rodolfo Estella said he is yet to receive the report on the assembly, but added that he expects that his office might receive the consolidated report by next week.

One of the controversial issues during the assembly was the signature campaign aimed to support the move changing the Charter.

The Arroyo administration is pushing for a shift to the unicameral parliamentary system of government and the removal of restrictive economic provisions that hamper the entry of foreign capital, among other reforms.

But in a unanimous decision, Ermita barangay captain Felicisimo Rupinta said the council "out-rightly" expressed opposition to the move changing the Charter after the more than 300 assembly participants junked the idea.

"After explaining, majority of the participants expressed their sentiments of their 'big no' stand," Rupinta said.

To recall, the barangay assembly was held by virtue of Memorandum Circular 2006-25 requiring provincial governors, city and municipal mayors, punong barangays to conduct such activity. Issued early this month, the circular was signed by DILG Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar. -Gregg M. Rubio, Cristina C. Birondo and Garry B. Lao