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The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) was disappointed with the Supreme Court ruling affirming the cityhood status of 16 local government units (LGUs) because it would reduce their internal revenue allotment (IRA) share.
Toledo City Mayor Arlene Espinosa-Zambo, Visayas LCP secretary said the group may seek reconsideration to the Supreme Court ruling.
She said in a radio interview that she knew of the decision during the LCP Christmas party last Dec. 8.
?We are very much saddened and shocked with what has happened,? said LCP president and Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin ?Benhur? Abalos.
He added it was highly unusual for the High Court to reverse itself after it denied the two motions for reconsideration filed by the 16 cities and issued an entry of judgment order.
Abalos said that after the court issued its decision on Nov. 18, 2008 declaring the cityhood of 16 towns as unconstitutional, it also denied the separate appeals on March 31 and in April this year.
After ordering that its decision be officially registered in its records, the High Court said it won't entertain anymore appeals, he added.
?That is why this came as such a surprise to us because we assumed it has become final and executory,? Abalos said.
Before the Supreme Court's decision, 120 cities and 81 provinces each had a 21-percent share of the IRA, while 1,494 towns shared 34 percent and 41,900 barangays, 20 percent.
But the High Court reversed its Nov. 18 decision in a vote 6-4.
Zambo said the LCP had yet to sit down and decide on their next course of action.
For Toledo City, Zambo said the Supreme Court decision would mean a P40-million IRA cut.
She said several mayors were infuriated and threatened to hold mass actions.
But Zambo said it would be unlikely if a rally would be held in front of the SC.
?We still have high respect towards the Supreme Court,? Zambo said.
But Abalos told the Inquirer that they would hold an emergency meeting despite the holidays.
In January 2008, the LCP mayors released a manifesto protesting the conversion of 16 towns into new cities.
The officials even wore black armbands and raised the flag at half-mast every Monday.
In their 2008 manifesto, the LCP pointed out that the conversion of more municipalities into cities that failed to meet income and population requirements would mean a reduced share for localities in the 2008 IRA.
Zambo said she was saddened by the decision since it showed how the Supreme Court flip-flopped.
She said if the 16 cities were allowed to file motions for reconsiderations twice, they should also be allowed to do so.
Zambo raised the possibility that the decision was partly influenced by politics but declined to elaborate.
For mayors of the 16 cities, the Supreme Court decision was a fitting Christmas gift for their constituents.
Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong said they hope the SC ruling will restore their IRA from the P92 million they received since May this year to the P224 million they received upon the confirmation of their cityhood status.
Chiong said the additional IRA would mean more funds for a new market, a new cemetery and cash aid to the city's barangays.
For his part, Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. thanked their patron saint St. Vincent Ferrer for granting their prayers.
He said they held a Thanksgiving Mass the other day in celebration of the tribunal's recent ruling.
?This is a huge gift for the people of Bogo from our patron saint, St. Vincent Ferrer, because we have been praying and offering Masses for a favorable Supreme Court ruling. It also pays to have a good lawyer (Estelito Mendoza),? he said.
He said he will demand a refund of the IRA from the DBM.
?I think they (DBM) will return it. (But if not), we will demand for a refund because our IRA as city has only been held in abeyance,? Martinez said.
Any motion for reconsideration, he said, may not prosper.
Chiong also echoed Martinez's point, but said he was more interested to know whether or not the IRA for cities will be given to them next month.
Covered by the SC ruling were Baybay City in Leyte, Catbalogan City in Samar, Tandag City in Surigao del Sur, Lamitan City in Basilan, Borongan City in Samar, Tayabas City in Quezon, Tabuk City in Kalinga, Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur, Batac City in Ilocos Norte, Mati City in Davao Oriental, Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental, Cabadbaran City in Agusan del Norte, El Salvador City in Misamis Oriental, Carcar City, Naga City, and Bogo City in Cebu. With Inquirer reports
