Next hearing regarding reverted cities on Dec. 8

CEBU, Philippines - The Supreme Court en banc has already scheduled the next votation of the case involving cities reverted back to towns this December 8, and the 16 affected cities are hopeful that the decision will be in their favor this time.

 Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said that the SC en banc has calendared their motion for reconsideration next week, and he is hoping like all the affected mayors that the results will be favorable to them.

 The 16 new cities saw hope in their case when the High Court called on the petitioner, the League of Cities of the Philippines, to reply to their motion for reconsideration last October.

 The Supreme Court en banc in a resolution promulgated last September 29, 2009 required the LCP “to comment” on the motion and pleading within 10 days of the receipt of the notice. LCP already lodged its reply.

 The fight to reverse the SC ruling has gone on for more than a year, with at least four motions for reconsideration and a handful of pleadings already submitted.

 Even if things do go in their favor Chiong said they are expecting for the LCP to fight them to no end.

 Last year, the LCP filed a petition before the High Tribunal seeking for the nullification of the Cityhood Laws of the new 16 cities, including Cebu’s Naga, Carcar and Bogo, saying that they did not comply with the requirements.

 The issue on the national income for the cities, or the Internal Revenue Allotment in which the 16 new cities would have to take shares of, was also raised by the LCP.

 Shortly after the SC issued its Nov. 18 ruling, the Department of Budget and Management started slashing down the IRA of these 16 cities.

 Chiong said they were supposed to appeal to the court to cancel its entry of judgment, but thought otherwise, because if they would be denied it might mean the end of their battle.

 He said they will then have to wait for their latest motion to be decided before making their next move.

 Their request meanwhile with the DBM asking it to restore their IRA has not yet been answered, as reportedly the said department would wait for the court to cancel its Nov. 18 ruling. — Liv G. Campo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)