Comelec: More Taguig City council seats to avoid disenfranchisement
Commission on Elections Chairperson George Garcia (INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO)
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday announced that it would move to allow the increase of Taguig City council seats to accommodate the 10 “Embo” villages recently placed under the city’s jurisdiction and avoid the disenfranchisement of voters.
Former Associate Justice Dante Tinga earlier filed a petition before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to invalidate a city ordinance increasing its councilor seats from eight to 12.
The Comelec then promulgated a resolution that sought to implement the city ordinance.
Aside from the ordinance, Comelec Chiarman George Erwin Garcia pointed out that the Senate and the House of Representatives had already green-lighted the move through a concurrent resolution.
“We did not act based on capriciousness, arbitrariness and in a despotic manner but in ensuring that the electorate of the 10 barangays are not disenfranchised,” Garcia told reporters in a Viber message.
Article continues after this advertisementGarcia also noted that “in several instances, the SC gave us leeway or elbow room just to ensure equal opportunity for all in the conduct of orderly and peaceful elections.”
Article continues after this advertisementTinga noted that the concurrent resolutions did not have “the force and effect of a law” as it did not undergo the prescribed three readings for a measure to become a law under the Constitution, and bear the signature of the president.
In 2022, the high court ruled that the 10 “Embo” villages are under the jurisdiction of Taguig City and no longer under Makati City.
It said that based on historical, documentary, and testimonial evidence, the contested areas fall within the territorial jurisdiction of Taguig.
Following this development, the 10 villages were placed under two Taguig City districts.
The Comelec said Comembo, Pembo and Rizal will be included in the First Legislative District, while Cembo, South Cembo, East Rembo, West Rembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside and Post Proper Southside will be part of the Second Legislative District.
