Nueva Ecija gov challenges mayor to debate on Cabanatuan cityhood

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines – Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali challenged again his former political ally, Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara, to a public debate on the move to convert this city into a highly urbanized city (HUC).

In a rare public appearance over TV 48 at the Capitol Compound here Friday, Umali said he and Vergara owe it to the residents of Nueva Ecija and Cabanatuan to explain the pros and cons of Cabanatuan’s cityhood through a public debate instead of resorting to mudslinging and character assassination.

“I am challenging Mayor Vergara to a debate. Let us explain to the people why we are taking a separate stand on the HUC and why I am against HUC. Let us not hide from the public and let us not resort to mud-throwing to deliver our message across,” Umali said.

“For the longest time, I have kept my silence although they kept firing at me. Now, I am coming out in the open to challenge Mayor Vergara to a debate so we can have a free and intelligent exchange of ideas on the HUC. The people of Nueva Ecija deserve no less. After all, there are two sides to a coin, your version and my version,” he said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) set the plebiscite to ratify Presidential Proclamation 418 issued last July 4 converting Cabanatuan from a component city into an HUC on Dec. 1.

The Comelec earlier denied the petition of Umali to allow all registered voters of Nueva Ecija, and not just those in Cabanatuan, to vote in the plebiscite. Umali filed a motion for reconsideration but the poll body also denied it.

Umali first challenged Vergara to a debate on the issue a few months ago.

But Vergara said Umali should debate with the Constitution and not with him.