SC stops plebiscite on Cabanatuan HUC conversion

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) has stopped the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from proceeding with the plebiscite on Jan. 25 on the conversion of Cabanatuan City into a highly urbanized city (HUC).

In full-court session, the SC granted the relief sought in the petition of Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali and issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) effective for an indefinite period.

The SC specifically enjoined the Comelec from implementing its Resolution 1353, which set the plebiscite upon the prodding of Cabanatuan Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara.

In a letter to the Comelec last Nov. 29, Vergara asked the Comelec to proceed with the plebiscite for Cabanatuan’s HUC conversion since the national and local elections were over.

President Aquino issued on July 4, 2012 Presidential Proclamation 418 converting Cabanatuan into an HUC. The conversion though has to be ratified in a plebiscite at a date set by the Comelec.

The poll body originally set the plebiscite on Dec. 1, 2012 but this was postponed as the Palayan City regional trial court issued a TRO.

Umali has been asking the Comelec to allow all qualified voters in the whole province to take part in the plebiscite, saying all Novo Ecijanos would be affected once Cabanatuan becomes an HUC.

The provincial government has opposed Cabanatuan City’s conversion into an HUC, as this would take away a large chunk of voters from Nueva Ecija’s third district, which is perceived to be Umali’s political stronghold.  

Under Section 452 (c) of the Local Government Code, qualified voters of highly urbanized cities are excluded from voting for elective provincial officials.