Petitioners seeking the conversion of Paglaum into another Bacolod barangay are filing a motion for reconsideration to the Commission on Elections en banc resolution to hold its plebiscite and ratification after the May 13, 2013 elections yet, claiming they have complied with all the requirements.

The COMELEC en banc adopted the recommendation of Bartolome Simocruz Jr. of the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Operations to schedule the plebiscite to ratify the creation of Barangay Paglaum after the May 13, 2013 elections.

Gemeno Ymballa, lawyer of the petitioners, yesterday said they have not yet received the official copy of the minute resolution of the COMELEC en banc, only a photo copy of the resolution from Bacolod COMELEC Registrar Mavil Majarucon-Sia.

In its minute resolution, the COMELEC en banc said it is in the middle of the preparatory activities for the May 13 national and local elections, and recommended that the plebiscite be scheduled after it.

It said that, considering the need to prioritize and centralize the action for the May 13 elections and to give the proponents ample time to complete their requirements for the plebiscite, the COMELEC resolved to adopt the recommendation of ODEDO that the plebiscite and ratification of Barangay Paglaum be held after May 13.

The resolution was signed by COMELEC chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. and commissioners, Rene Sarmiento, Armando Velasco, Christian Robert Lim, Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph and Marie Gracia Cielo Padaca.

Ymballa said they have complied with the population requirement and the affidavit of publication.

Majarucon-Sia said the petitioners submitted the population requirement only last week and she believes their papers may have been received already by the COMELEC en banc but these additional documents were not attached to it.

The memorandum of the ODEDO dated November 6 was in relation to the request of Mayor Evelio Leonardia for the conduct of a plebiscite to ratify the creation of Barangay Paglaum pursuant to City Ordinance No. 606, Series of 2012.

Majarucon-Sia said that if they are directed by the COMELEC they can conduct the plebiscite anytime, since their records are in order and they can already determine the list of voters in Mansilingan.*CGS

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