SP presses Congress for polls to elect rep

By Angel Baybay

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan recently passed a resolution requesting congress through Speaker Prospero Nograles to declare the position of Representative of the lone district of the province vacant and to authorize the Commission on Elections to call for a special election. The resolution was approved by Gov. Maximo Dalog.

After the death of Rep. Victor Dominguez on Feb. 8, the provincial board earlier passed a resolution dated Feb. 15 asking Congress for the conduct of a special election.

On the same date, another resolution was also approved requesting the designation of Baguio City Rep. Mauricio Domogan as caretaker until a permanent congressman shall have been elected by the people. Another resolution reiterating Domogan’s designation was inked by the officials saying that he, who traces his roots to Mountain Province, is the best person suited for the assignment.

Weeks ago, a fourth resolution was prepared by the sangguniang panlalawigan but did not prosper after it failed to muster the signature of majority of the members of the provincial board. The prepared resolution caused a stir among some sectors in the province when the governor asked provincial legal officer Einstein Calaoa for his comment on one of its provisions which stated that the provincial government is willing to shoulder the financial requirements of a special election.

Based on the experience of other areas, the request for declaration of vacancy as contained in the July 15 resolution should had been included in the first resolution since no special election could be held until a vacancy officially occurs.

After the declaration of a vacancy, congress shall then authorize Comelec to call and schedule the balloting. These experiences jibed with the opinion of the provincial attorney when his appearance was sought by the SP in one of its sessions.

The latest resolution emphasized that provincial officials have nothing against Kalinga Rep. Manuel Agyao who was designated caretaker but they simply want the vacated seat to be occupied by a person duly elected by the people of the province.

The latest move of the officialdom was hailed by non-government organizations and constituents. They said denying people a voice in congress even for a day was a form of human rights violation in a democracy.