LEADERS WHOSE POLITICAL FORTUNES ARE AFFECTED BY THE STRIPPING OF THE SIXTH DISTRICT

WHO AMONG THEM DO NOT THINK OF HOW THE REDISTRICTING COULD AFFECT THEIR CAREER IN POLITICS AND INSTEAD ON HOW IT COULD IMPROVE GOVERNANCE AND PEOPLE’S LIVES?

THE QUESTION

“The public is told about the requirements on population and income in creating a new district. But not the requirements for the district that would be left once Mandaue would follow Lapu-Lapu’s lead. …Are the rules required only during legislative creation, not afterwards…?”

SEARES: “STRIPPING AWAY CEBU’S SIXTH DISTRICT” News Sense, SunStar, Cebu Nov. 29, 2018

THE ANSWER

Presidential Legislative Liaison Adelino Sitoy in a Feb. 8 radio interview said the Supreme Court has ruled that the requirements on population and income in a legislative district apply only to the creation of the district, not after it already exists and spawns another or other districts.

WHY LUIGI HESITATED ON CONVERSION OF MANDAUE INTO LONE DISTRICT

Then Rep. Luigi Quisumbing was initially reluctant for legal and economic reasons. Apparently, the obstacle of the law was later removed with the SC ruling. How about economic consideration? That has not been explained, except for the supposed benefit to the lone-district cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue. The bill didn’t move when he was congressman.

In December 2015, just before the 2016 elections, he said it was “now for [then congressman-to-be] Jonas Cortes” to pursue.