Cabanatuan voters press for ratification of new city status

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines—Thousands of residents rallied on Saturday to press authorities into proceeding with a plebiscite that would determine whether Cabanatuan should be upgraded into a so-called “highly urbanized city” or HUC.

Displaying placards, some of which proclaimed “Yes or No, ituloy ang plebiscito (let’s proceed with the plebiscite),” the rally participants assembled at Plaza Lucero here.

President Benigno Aquino issued Presidential Proclamation 418 on July 4, 2012, classifying Cabanatuan City as an HUC, pending the results of a Jan. 25 referendum that was scheduled by the Commission on Elections.

But acting on a petition by Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali, the Supreme Court stopped the plebiscite when it issued a temporary restraining order on Jan. 14.

The governor argued that the whole province would be affected by the proclamation, and should therefore be allowed to take part in the exercise.

Republic Act 7160 (The Local Government Code of 1991) states that the province loses administrative control over its city once it achieves the status of a highly urbanized city. The law also states that residents  of a highly urbanized city do not need to elect officials of the provincial government.

The local police said between 3,500 and 4,000 people joined the Saturday rally.

“This rally was a people’s initiative,” said City Administrator Jose Roy Balagtas.

Balagtas said the lawyers of Cabanatuan Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara have asked the Supreme Court to lift the restraining order.

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