‘Flip-Flop Party’ steps up call for stability in SC rulings

“Tabuk, the capital town of Kalinga in the Cordillera region, is a city." True or false? Whether you’re a teacher giving a quiz in Philippine geography, or a researcher on local government autonomy, you may answer “True" and be right. And you may answer "False" and be right too. It all depends on when the statement about Tabuk was made. The confusion about the status of Tabuk and 15 other municipalities that became cities – then reverted back to towns before becoming cities again – is the outcome of the Supreme Court reversing its own decision three times. (See: 16 towns now cities again as SC reverses itself for 3rd time) This has resulted in a policy research and advocacy group stepping up calls for stability in the high court’s decisions by hosting an event dubbed as “Flip-Flop Outrage Party" – an allusion to the flip-flopping of SC rulings on the 16 municipalities. The La Liga Policy Institute (LLPI) will gather “legal eagles, lawyers, law students, academics, city mayors and leaders of non-government organizations (NGOs)" in a Quezon City restaurant on Wednesday, March 3 and hold a “solidarity dinner" to share insights on recent controversies surrounding the Supreme Court. (See: Supreme crises: A terrible year for the High Court) The LLPI describes itself on its website as a policy research and advocacy group formed in 2000 to promote effective governance towards sustainable development by working in partnership with national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), citizens’ groups, community organizations and donor agencies. The LLPI lists Edicio “Fr. Ed" de la Torre as chairman, Horacio “Boy" Morales Jr. as president, and Isagani R. Serrano, Ma. Victoria Raquiza, and Ana Maria R. Nemenzo as board members. In a text message sent to GMA News, LLPI Managing Director Roland Cabigas explained, “It’s a citizen-led campaign that will complement the effort of the LCP in protesting the flip-flop done by the SC on the case of 16 LGUs." The LCP, or League of Cities of the Philippines, is an organization currently composed of 122 cities that tackle issues affecting city government administration. On Nov. 18, 2008, the SC granted the LCP’s petitions to declare as unconstitutional the conversion of 16 municipalities into cities. But on Dec. 21, 2009, the SC reversed itself and ruled that the towns can be declared as cities. Then on August 24, 2010, the SC reinstated its Nov. 2008 decision only to reverse itself for a third time on Feb. 15 of this year by ruling that 16 towns can be declared cities. “The [Feb. 15] SC decision is an affront to the rule of law and contributes to the weakening of our democracy. We recognize that cityhood is an indicator of progress but it has to be achieved in a manner where rules and procedures are properly observed and respected," Cabigas said. Event organizers clarified in a media advisory that: “This gathering of bright minds in Philippine politics and legal profession is not a formal round-table discussion, but a casual gathering of friends who share the common vision of restoring the people’s faith and confidence on the Supreme Court."—JV, GMA News