Creation of brgy Banawa-Englis opposed

“DEFINITELY, I will vote No in the plebiscite”.

Guadalupe barangay captain Michael Gacasan stated this yesterday as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) started the preparations for the upcoming plebiscite for the creation of Banawa-Englis as separate barangay from Guadalupe on July 28.

Labangon barangay Captain Victor Buendia, who resides in Rosalina Village which will become part of the new barangay if  the ‘Yes’ vote will prevail, said he is still researching on his legal options which he refused to elaborate.

Buendia said the creation of Banawa-Englis as separate barangay can affect the population and income of his barangay taking into consideration that Rosalina Village will no longer be part of barangay Labangon.

“Ma-reduce ang income, ang boundary ug ang population. Dako kaayo nang epekto sa income sa among barangay, so kung wa koy buhaton, akoy basulon sa mga tawo nga wa koy gihimo sanglit ako man ang amahan sa barangay”, (The income, area and population will be reduced. It will have a very big impact in our barangay, so if I do not do anything as the father of my barangay, I may be blamed by the people.),” he said.

It was Buendia, then councilor of barangay Labangon, who filed court action when the Comelec first scheduled the plebiscite because of his concern that his residency in Labangon will be affected.

But now, Buendia said, his residency is the least of his concern.

“Kadaghang mga politiko diha, gobernador pa man gani nga naa sa Cebu City puyo bisan probinsya ang gisilbihan. Ako na hinoon nga kapitan ra ko unya ang boundary namo kataw-anan pa gyud kaayo,”  (There are many politicians there, like the governor of the province who lives in Cebu City even if the constituency is the province. Why would it make a different to me, I am just a barangay captain and our boundary is becoming funny),” he said.

Gacasan for his part said he will just ask the residents of Guadalupe to come out and vote during the July 28 plebiscite.

But while he won’t  vote ‘No’ during the plebiscite, he said, he will just let the people decide if they are in favor of or oppose the creation of the new barangay.

Gacasan however said, he is just wondering why the plebiscite will be done in haste when the boundary issue has yet to be resolved.

Gacasan said there’s no clear delineation of boundary if the new barangay will be created.

“Mao na ang dakong pangutana nganong gidali-dali na nga wa pa  maklaro ang boundary” (Why are they hastily calling for the plebiscite when the boundary of the new barangay is not even clear yet),” Gacasan said.

The law calling for the plebisicte was authored by former congressman Antonio Cuenco, who is set to run in next year’s elections.