NHC rules: Bacolod Charter Day is Oct 19, not June 18

BACOLOD City, Philippines —The legally correct date for celebrating the Charter Day of the City of Bacolod is October 19, which had been so for 72 years, not June 18 as what Mayor Evelio Leonardia had ordered two years ago, the National Historical Commission (NHC) said.

The controversial issue on the legality of the date of celebrating the city’s Charter was brought up again last Thursday after Leonardia’s political rival, Bacolod Rep. Anthony Golez Jr., called for a press conference to show to the media the document supposedly coming from the NHC which gave its opinion on the matter.

Leonardia, now on his third and last term as mayor, is running for congressman in the May 2013 elections, challenging the reelection bid of Golez.

Based on the document dated Jan. 9, 2013, NHC chairperson Dr. Maria Serena Diokno wrote Golez that the Commission holds that the City of Bacolod started its “corporate existence” on October 19, 1938 thus it should celebrate its Charter Day every Oct. 19.

The NHC added that for 72 years, the city’s celebration of its Charter Day every Oct. 19 have “already acquired the character of custom and tradition” which the commission finds no compelling reason to set aside.

In 2011, Leonardia issued an executive order effectively moving the date of Charter Day to June 18. His position was that the date June 18, 1938 was the proper Charter Day, because it was when former President Manuel Quezon approved Commonwealth Act No. 326 or the Charter Day of Bacolod.

Leonardia’s stand was supported by the Provincial Board, which issued Ordinance No. 588 on May 2, 2012, commemorating June 18 every year as the date of the signing of the Charter day of the City of Bacolod.

The NHC said the issue between June 18 and Oct. 19 on the correct date of Bacolod Charter Day was already resolved by Congress when it enacted Republic Act No. 7724 on May 19, 1994, declaring Oct. 19 of every year as a special non-working public holiday in the city to be known as Bacolod City Charter Day.

“Oct. 19 is the lawful Charter Day, that being the date when President Manuel Quezon went to Bacolod City for its formal inauguration as a chartered city, highlighted by the assumption to office of Alfredo Montelibano as the first appointed mayor,” the NHC said.

Diokno has reportedly “certified” that Commonwealth Act No. 326 was signed on June 18, 1938. But the NHC further asserted that the date of signing of that law is distinct from the beginning of the corporate existence of Bacolod City.

“Given the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 326, therefore, it cannot be said that Bacolod City came into being simultaneously with the approval of its charter on June 18, 1938,” the NHC said. “This Commission finds no irreconcilable conflict between Commonwealth Act No. 326, Commonwealth Act No. 404 and Republic Act No. 7160 on the beginning of the corporate existence of Bacolod City,” it added.

Golez, for his part, urged city officials to admit the mistake they committed for changing the yearly celebration of the city’s Charter Day two years ago. “I am not here to re-open the case. I am here to close this book or chapter. I was right to say that no executive order can repeal Republic Act 7724 relative to the celebration of the city’s Charter Day,” he said.

The congressman said it was his obligation as a lawmaker to rectify and to make sure that” we do and follow what is right.”

Golez alleged that his non-support on moving the date of Charter Day was the reason he was ousted from the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC). The controversy on the opposing stand between him and Leonardia apparently made its mark in their political relationship, he said. (FREEMAN)