(Eagle News) – The Commission on Elections has suspended the elections for representative of the first district of South Cotabato following the approval of the implementing rules on the law that reapportioned this district to create the lone district of General Santos City.
In a resolution promulgated Thursday, April 11, Comelec approved the implementing rules and regulations for Republic Act No. 11243 entitled “An Act Reapportioning the First Legislative District of the Province of South Cotabato Thereby Creating the Lone Legislative District of General Santos City.”
Resolution No. 10524 also noted that when President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law this act that created the district of General Santos City on March 11, 2019, the names of the candidates for the first legislative district of South Cotabato “have already been configured into the automated election system.”
They can therefore “no longer be revised or modified in time for the May 13, 2019 national and local elections without jeopardizing the preparations for the elections of other positions,” the Comelec resolution noted.
The list of candidates and the ballots to be used for the May 13 elections, for instance, have already been printed.
“The electoral data for the position of Member, House of Representatives for the First Legislative District of South Cotabato, which included General Santos City, as well as the names of the candidates for the said position, have already been configured into the automated election system,” the poll body said in the resolution.
Because of this, there is a need to suspend the election of the representatives for the first district of South Cotabato scheduled on May 13, 2019, the Comelec said.
It said that in case that there are votes cast for a member of the House of Representatives for said district, these votes “shall be considered stray,” the Comelec resolution said.
Comelec then set the “first regular elections for the new Representatives of the First and Third Legislative Districts of the Province of South Cotabato” within six months from May 13, 2019.
Meanwhile, the incumbent lawmakers for the first and second legislative districts in South Cotabato shall continue to be in office until June 30 this year.
The election for the position of other elective posts in the first and third legislatives districts such as senators, party-list representatives, provincial, city and municipal elective offices won’t be affected and shall be held as scheduled on May 13.
The resolution was signed by Comelec Chaiman Sheriff Abas, and commissioners Al Parreño, Luie Tito Guia, Ma. Rowena Amelia Guanzon, Socorro Inting, Marlon Casquejo. Only commissioner Antonio Kho was not able to sign as he was out on official business.
Under the IRR, the province of South Cotabato shall be reapportioned into three legislative districts. The first legislative district will include Polomolok, Tampakan and Tupi. The second legislative district will be composed of the city of Koronadal and the towns of Banga, Lake Sebu, Norala, Santo Nino, Surallah, Tantangan and T’Boli.
General Santos City alone will be the province’s third legislative district.
(Eagle News Service)
