BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Albee Benitez has said that he will let the Supreme Court decide on a petition filed by a group opposing the creation of the Negros Island Region under Republic Act (RA) 12000.
BENITEZ (Glazyl Masculino)
“It’s up to the court to make the decision on the merits of the case. That’s beyond my authority and jurisdiction,” Benitez said in a media interview.
Petitioners from Negros Oriental and Siquijor, led by Rev. Fr. Hendrix Alar, filed a petition for a Temporary Restraining Order before the Supreme Court, claiming that the creation of the NIR was illegal and that the measure was not submitted for a plebiscite and no public consultation was held.
The petition was filed two months after the NIR Act was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 13.
The NIR is composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental (including Bacolod City), Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
Benitez said that petitioners should have proper information to enable them to be aware of the benefits of the NIR.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson also said that he is letting the SC decide on the petition.
“Only the SC can decide on that. But you know, it’s a free country, it’s a democracy. Anybody can file a petition in the Supreme Court if they want to, but it will be up to the SC to decide what is best and how to treat that petition,” Lacson said.