By JEN BAYLON
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will leave the decision to the Supreme Court (SC) on the petition which challenges the constitutionality of the Negros Island Region (NIR) Act.
“Only the Supreme Court can decide on that,” Lacson said yesterday, when asked about his reaction to the petition filed against the NIR’s enactment.
“It’s a free country, it’s a democratic country. Anybody can file a petition to the Supreme Court when they want to, but it will be up to the Supreme Court to decide,” he added.
The governor believes the petitioners felt that Negros Oriental and Siquijor would be put at a disadvantage in NIR.
However, more people said that the newly established region will benefit the three provinces, he added.
Lacson said it is better to wait for SC’s decision on the complaint.
For now, all parties await SC’s decision on the petition, which will ultimately determine NIR’s future and its intended role in improving governance and service delivery in the region.
Earlier, the 65-page petition, filed by six individuals from Negros Oriental and Siquijor last week, argues that the NIR Act did not undergo proper consultation and lacked a plebiscite, thereby questioning its constitutionality.
The petition was filed by Fr. Hendrix Alar, Dr. Maria Lina Eparwa, Engineer Wilfredo Magallano, and lawyers Marcelino Maxino, Jose Imaculado Palmitos, and Grace Sumalpong.
Negros Occidental 6th District Congresswoman Mercedes Alvarez affirmed that the passage of the NIR Act followed the proper legislative process.
“The creation of the NIR is not intended to establish a new local government unit or political entity, but is focused on improving administrative efficiency,” Alvarez said.
She encouraged those who claimed that there has been an alleged constitutional violation in NIR’s enactment to bring their concerns before the SC.
The lawmaker urged critics to give NIR a chance to demonstrate its effectiveness in achieving its aim, which is to enhance the delivery of national government services in the region.
Meanwhile, Negros Occidental 5th District Congressman Atty. Dino Yulo also weighed in on the issue, expressing regret over the petition but respecting the legal process.
Yulo emphasized that there is no law in the country requiring a plebiscite for the creation of an administrative region.
He added that a plebiscite is only needed when establishing, merging, dividing, or altering the boundaries of local government units.
Yulo said all congressmen from the islands of Negros and Siquijor co-authored the NIR Act.
“As representatives, we advocated for the stance of our constituents regarding the creation of the NIR, effectively serving as their voice during the legislative process,” he said.
Republic Act 12000, or the NIR bill, was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. last June 13, which unifies Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siquijor into one administrative region.
Negros Occidental previously belonged to Western Visayas, while Negros Oriental and Siquijor were under Central Visayas.
The NIR was initially established in 2015 through Executive Order (EO) 183 by former President Benigno Aquino III, but it was abolished by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 through EO 38./JB, WDJ