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If anything, the temporary restraining order (TRO) against the plebiscite on the division of barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City was a blessing in disguise.
It has given an opportunity to the 150 residents of three sitios in barangay Labangon a chance to be heard, considering that the results of the plebiscite will affect them and yet, they have no say about it.
Too often, the arguments for and against the division of Guadalupe, considered the biggest in Cebu City, have been largely limited mainly to the supporters of the ?yes? votes ? those in favor to split Guadalupe into two barangays ? and the ?no? votes or those who want Guadalupe to remain as the biggest barangay in Cebu City.
Those who push for the creation of the new barangay Banawa-Englis, have argued that for too long, barangay officials of Guadalupe have neglected to provide basic services like security and garbage disposal to sitios Banawa and Englis to the detriment of residents.
On the other, those who are against the split like Guadalupe chairman Eugenio Faelnar point to politics as the motive. He claimed that most of the proponents lost in the Guadalupe barangay elections and would want to run in the barangay polls in the event Banawa and Englis are separated into another village.
As the campaign heats up, nobody paid serious attention to the about 150 residents in barangay Labangon who will be affected in case the plebiscite results to a split until a village official filed a complaint in court.
Barangay Labangon councilor Victor Buendia asks the court to stop the Commission on Election from implementing Comelec Resolution No. 8774, which sets the rules and regulations to govern the conduct of the plebiscite after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law Republic Act 9905, an Act Creating Barangay Banawa-Englis in the City of Cebu.
He complained that he stands to lose his position in the barangay council once his area of residency is placed under barangay Banawa-Englis.
Now, the 150 residents have found a voice.
It is up to them on how they are going to grab the opportunity.
But one thing is certain, there are certain provisions of RA 9905 that need to be ironed out such as the inclusion of the three sitios to barangay Banawa-Englis when the affected residents are registered voters of Labangon.
They may only be 150 people but they too have rights under the Constitution.
In the meantime, the supporters of the ?yes? and the ?no? votes can always look at the bright side.
The temporary restraining order will give them enough time to campaign and hopefully win more supporters. The 20 days will also give the Guadalupe residents more time to study the issues thoroughly before casting their votes.
The question may only be simple but the result has a big economic and political implications.
