THE upcoming midterm elections in Palawan now face uncertainty following the recent passage of Republic Act (RA) 11259 dividing it into three new provinces.
The Commission on Election’s (Comelec) en banc is now in the process of deciding whether to push through or defer the midterm elections in Palawan.
Relatedly, Malacañang is unfazed by the warning of Sen. Risa Hontiveros that Palawan’s split into three provinces renders it more vulnerable to aggression by China, which has long been muscling its way into the West Philippine Sea. Palawan is the closest Philippine province to the disputed waters in the South China Sea.
Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez said among Comelec en banc’s consideration for its decision on whether to push through with the May elections in Palawan will be the resources and effort they already dedicated for the polls in Palawan.
“All the preparations, like the list of voters, are already ready. But the problem is the configuration on the ground suddenly changed,” Jimenez told reporters in an interview. “From one province, it will be three provinces each with its own list of voters and allocations,” he added.
Another factor which will be crucial for the decision, Jimenez said, is the plebiscite they would have to organize in Palawan to implement RA 11259.
“These should be taken into consideration by the en banc in deciding what the proper procedure moving forward is,” Jimenez said.
During the plebiscite, scheduled in May 2020, registered voters in Palawan will decide if they will support RA 11259. Under RA 11259, the province is split into Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur.
No implication on West PHL Sea
Meanwhile, Malacañang does not see any possibility that the new law splitting Palawan into three provinces will bolster China’s position in the West Philippine Sea.
The Palace was responding to a statement by Hontiveros that the law has “deep geopolitical repercussions” since “China will now have the opportunity to infiltrate and influence smaller local government units” instead of having to face a single, strong provincial government, which can mobilize the entire island in its own defense.
President Duterte signed RA 11259 dividing Palawan into three provinces just days after Manila got embroiled in another word war with Beijing over the swarming by hundreds of Chinese boats in the vicinity of Pag-Asa Island, the biggest in the Kalayaan Island Group that is a municipality of Palawan.
More than 200 Chinese vessels were spotted swarming Pag-Asa Island, according to local authorities. But Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo was quick to defend the law splitting Palawan in three, saying he sees “no connection” in relation to Hontiveros’s claim.
Panelo added that even though Palawan is not divided, China can infiltrate if it wants to.
“Even if there is no division into provinces, it will infiltrate it if it wants to,” Panelo added in Filipino.
The Palace spokesman also stressed that every creation of a new province was meant to help the government respond better to the needs of the people through faster delivery of basic services.
The first set of elective officials of the newly created provinces will be chosen in the May 2022 national and local polls.
The measure has also since been criticized by some Palawan residents and indigenous peoples.
Hontiveros also said there was a lack of genuine consultation in the proposal, citing a letter from Bishop Eduard Sarabia Juanich of Taytay, Palawan, and the petition by the Save Palawan Movement.
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/04/16/palawan-elections-in-limbo-after-law-splits-province-into-3/
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