Guadalupe stays whole

CEBU, Philippines - Barangay Guadalupe remains the biggest barangay of Cebu City after majority of its residents rejected in a plebiscite yesterday the move to create a new barangay out of it.

More than 8,000 residents of Guadalupe voted “No,” dashing any hope of making sitios Banawa and Englis a new barangay.

The “No” vote got 8,107 while the “Yes” vote garnered 3,990.

The result also killed the Republic Act 9905, the law which seeks to create the Barangay Banawa-Englis.

City Prosecutor Nicolas Sellon, Commission on Elections-Cebu City south officer Edwin Cadungog and Department of Education’s Rhia Mar Angtud led the canvassing of votes, which started around 7 p.m. and ended at 9 p.m.

Despite the campaigns for residents to go out and vote, the turnout was less than 50 percent. Guadalupe has 28,462 registered voters.

South district Rep Tomas Osmeña and wife, Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña, did not cast their votes.

Cadungog said the result officially killed RA 9905, which means that those wanting the creation of a new barangay would have to push for a new law.

When words spread that the “No” votes were winning, a handful of Guadalupe residents gathered at the Guadalupe elementary school started to rejoice.

Daniel Tura said he is happy with the outcome because he does not want to see his barangay split into two.

Former south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco, who authored the law seeking for the creation of Banawa-Englis as separate barangay, vowed to the decision of the majority.

Upon learning that the counting indicated that the “No” votes were leading over the “Yes” votes, Cuenco said he would abide by the result.

“Timailhan kini nga ang Birhen sa Guadalupe dili mosugot nga mobuwag ang Banawa ug Englis sa iyang sabakan. Moyukbo ako sa desisyon sa katawhan (This is a sign that the Virgin of Guadalupe does not want Banawa and Englis to split. I will vow to the decision of the people),” he said in a text message to The FREEMAN.

Osmeña said the result only shows that Cuenco and Mayor Michael Rama have no influence on the people.

Rama and Cuenco have supported the move to create Barangay Banawa-Englis.

“Maybe their endorsement even backfired. Both Cuenco and Rama should have let the people alone to decide. Now they proved that they cannot knead the people. They should read the handwriting on the wall,” Osmeña said.

Guadalupe Barangay Captain Michael Gacasan welcomed the results of the plebiscite.

For his part, Labangon Barangay Captain Victor Buendia said he was relieved by the result of the plebiscite.

Labangon would have to lose 13 sitios to the new barangay if the “Yes” vote won. 

But Buendia may still face another problem because Cuenco is planning to file before the court a petition for a quo warranto to remove him from his post.

Cuenco claimed he has documents to prove that the Rosalina Village where Buendia is residing is still part of Guadalupe, meaning Buendia has no right to run for barangay captain of Labangon.

There were persons with disabilities and senior citizens who went to the precincts to vote. “Mobotar g’yud ko dong kay para makatabang ko nga dili matipakan ang Guadalupe (I will vote in order for Gaudalupe to stay intact),” said an old woman.

“Dili mi mosugot nga ibuwag ang Banawa ug Englis sa Guadalupe mao nga bisan kapoy na unta pero botar gihapon ta (We will not permit that Banawa ang Englis will separate from Guadalupe),” said a man on a wheelchair.

Several voters were dismayed when they failed to locate their names on the master list.

During the past elections, classrooms of Gothong Memorial High School, which is situated next to Guadalupe Elementary School, had been used as voting precincts. But they were not used in yesterday’s plebiscite.

The 79 clustered precincts are all situated inside the Guadalupe Elementary School, resulting in the displacement of the names of several voters.

The rainshowers may have also contributed to the low turnout of the voting.

Chief Inspector Enrique Belciña, chief of Guadalupe Police Station, said the voting was generally peaceful. 

Belciña said he has deployed personnel at the vicinity of Guadalupe Elementary School as early as 5 a.m. He himself led in the security arrangement.

The Cebu City Police Office also deployed at least 60 policemen to assist in securing the event.

Another 30 policemen from the CCPO were on standby for future augmentation. — With a report from Niña G. Sumacot/LPM (FREEMAN)