IN compliance with a precedent-setting Supreme Court decision on a petition filed by San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida “Rida” Robes, the Commission on Elections has ordered the allocation in all provincial legislative bodies of seats representing lone legislative districts.
In Resolution 10994 promulgated on May 22 but released recently to Robes’ office, the Comelec en banc declared that a lone legislative district created by law is entitled to a separate representation in the concerned Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) or provincial board.
Comelec Resolution No. 10994 provides the General Guidelines in the Determination and Allocation of the Number of Seats for the Elective Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Involving a Lone Legislative District.
In issuing Resolution No. 10994, the Comelec cited the High Court decision on the Petition for Writ of Mandamus filed by Robes.
The senior administration lawmaker asked that the lone legislative district of San Jose del Monte City be represented in the Bulacan SB by two board members to be elected by her constituents
Penned by Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, the High Court ruling upheld Robes’ contention that “a lone legislative district is given by law the right to elect” its representatives to the SB.
Robes welcomed both the SC ruling and the Comelec resolution as twin victories for the people residing in lone legislative districts.
Robes said several lone legislative districts that are heretofore not represented in provincial legislative bodies will benefit from the ruling.
“I am convinced that among the lone districts that will benefit from the decision are the cities of Calamba, Sta. Rosa, San Pedro and Biñan City in Laguna and Mandaue City in Cebu, among others” said Robes.
Robes, chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, recalled that she filed the petition for mandamus after the Comelec informed her that San Jose City is not entitled to a single seat in the Bulacan legislative body.
She disagreed with the poll body’s contention as she pointed out that Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code clearly provides that lone legislative district should also be represented in the provincial board.
In its 13-page decision, the High Court stressed that Robes, “being a resident, taxpayer, registered voter and incumbent representative of San Jose Del Monte City” has demonstrated her “clear legal right to demand the election of two members” to represent her district to the provincial board.
Aside from entitling lone legislative districts to representation to provincial SB’s, Resolution No. 10994 also provides that the “determination and allocation of the number of seats for elective members of the sangguniang barangay shall include a lone legislative district.”
