LEAGUE OF CITIES RALLY AT SC

Some forty (40) city mayors including Olongapo City Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. marched along Padre Faura in Ermita, Manila last March 9, 2011, to protest to what they say on the Supreme Court (SC) about the “flip-flopping” on its decision on cityhood of 16 municipalities.

The City Mayors asked the SC for the fourth time to reconsider its decision upholding the constitutionality of converting sixteen (16) municipalities into cities.

“No province, city, municipality or barangay shall be created, divided, merged, abolished or its boundary substantially altered in accordance with the criteria established in the local government code and subject to approval by majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly affected,” remarked by concern LCP member.

The SC’s first ruling on the issue handed down on November 18, 2008 that declared the 16 cityhood laws unconstitutional had become final and executory on December 21, 2009, but was reversed by the SC.

The ruling granted the motion for reconsideration filed by the LCP on August 24, 2010 and on February 15, 2011; the SC again changed its decision.

LCP is asking the SC to reinstate its original decision and use the Local Government Code.