Council okays resolution opposing 3rd district

CEBU, Philippines – The Cebu City Council yesterday approved the resolution that opposed the creation of a third district in the city.

Eight south district councilors authored the resolution opposing House Bill 5702, which is authored by south district Representive Antonio Cuenco. It also called for the Houses of Representatives and the Senate not to approve the measure.

Councilors Rodrigo Abellanosa, Raul Alcoseba, Roberto Cabarrubias, Gerardo Carillo, Jose Daluz III, Richard Osmeña, Arsenio Pacaña, Eduardo Rama and Eugenio Faelnar authored the resolution.

According to the resolution, the move to create another district in the city will result to reapportionment and division since the second district, which is being sought to be divided into two, will only be left with a population of 173,680.

The resolution stated a Supreme Court ruling which declared unconstitutional and void the law redistricting certain municipalities in Leyte, saying the imbalance, depending on its degree, could devalue a citizen’s vote in violation of the Constitution.

The resolution stated that there is also a need to justify more than what is stated in the explanatory note of House Bill 5702, in so far as territorial boundaries are concerned.

“Specifically the absence of gerrymandering and the definition of the metes and bounds of such boundaries,” the resolution said.

It added that the proposed measure violates the Constitution specifically on the provisions on creation of legislative districts in relation to the equal protection clause.

HB 5702, otherwise known as An Act Creating an Additional Legislative District in the City of Cebu, was filed by Cuenco last year. — Ferliza C. Contratista/LPM (THE FREEMAN)