By Perfecto Raymundo
MANILA, (PNA) — A plebiscite for the creation of the new province of Davao Occidental will push through on Monday.
This, after the Supreme Court during its special en banc session Friday decided to dismiss the petition filed by Davao del Sur Gov. Marc Douglas Cagas IV against the conduct of such a plebiscite.
The SC declared as without merit the petition of Cagas.
It allowed the conduct of the plebiscite to be supervised by the Commission on Elections and to be held simultaneous with the barangay elections on October 28.
The SC said the conduct of a plebiscite is within the power of the Comelec to get the pulse of the residents of Davao del Sur whether they agree to divide the province into two separate provinces.
Under Republic Act No. 10360 or “An Act creating the Province of Davao Occidental”, which was passed into law by the 16th Congress on July 23, 2013, the Comelec is mandated to supervise the plebiscite for the creation of the province of Davao Occidental and it will be conducted within 60 days after the enactment of the law.
Section 46 of RA 10360 provides that majority of the voters of Davao del Sur should vote in favor the creation of the province of Davao Occidental.
The Comelec earlier recommended to conduct the plebiscite simultaneous with the barangay elections as the government stands to save P29 million.
If the “yes” votes have it, the province of Davao Occidental will be composed of the towns of Sta. Maria, Malita, Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani.