On August 15, 2015, Congresswoman Dina Tatalo filed and sponsored House Bill No. 5432, entitled “An Act Providing for the Apportionment of the Lone District of the City of Pangarap.” The bill eventually became a law, R.A. No. 1234. It mandated that the lone legislative district of the City of Pangarap would now consist of two (2) districts. For the 2016 elections, the voters of the City of Pangarap would be classified as belonging to either the first or second district, depending on their place of residence. The constituents of each district would elect their own representative to Congress as well as eight (8) members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod. R.A. No. 1234 apportioned the City’s barangays. The COMELEC thereafter promulgated Resolution No. 2170 implementing R.A. No. 1234.
Piolo Cruz assails the COMELEC Resolution as unconstitutional. According to him, R.A. No. 1234 cannot be implemented without conducting a plebiscite because the apportionment under the law falls within the meaning of creation, division, merger, abolition or substantial alteration of boundaries of cities under Section 10, Article X of the 1987 Constitution. Is the claim correct? Explain. (4%)
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No, Piolo Cruz's claim is not correct. Under Section 5, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, legislative apportionment or reapportionment does not require a plebiscite. In Bagabuyo v. COMELEC, the Supreme Court held that the plebiscite requirement under Section 10,
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Quick check
Under Section 5, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution, what is the primary purpose of legislative reapportionment?
Legislative reapportionment aims to adjust representative districts to ensure proportional legislative representation as populations grow.
Why is a plebiscite NOT required when Congress divides a city into two legislative districts under Section 5, Article VI?
Plebiscites under Section 10, Article X apply exclusively to local government units, whereas legislative districts are mere voting units.
According to Bagabuyo v. COMELEC, what distinguishes a local government unit from a legislative district?
A local government unit possesses corporate personality and local autonomy, while a legislative district is merely a voting unit for representation.
Under Section 10, Article X of the 1987 Constitution, when is a plebiscite mandatory?
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What effect does the creation of additional legislative districts within a city have on the city's corporate boundaries?
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Learn more about these topics
1. Legislative Apportionment
Legislative apportionment or reapportionment is the allocation of legislative seats among redistricted areas to ensure equal representation in Congress. Governed by Section 5, Article VI of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, redistricting aims to preserve the democratic principle of proportional representation based on population growth. Unlike the creation or division of local government units under Article X, legislative redistricting creates electoral districts purely for legislative representation. A legislative district does not possess corporate personality, local autonomy, or municipal powers. Consequently, legislative reapportionment statutes do not require a plebiscite for their valid implementation.
2. Plebiscite Requirement
Section 10, Article X of the 1987 Constitution mandates that no province, city, municipality, or barangay may be created, divided, merged, abolished, or its boundary substantially altered, except in accordance with the criteria established in the Local Government Code and subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly affected. This constitutional plebiscite requirement protects local autonomy and the political identity of local communities. However, it applies strictly to local government units with corporate powers, not to congressional districts formed solely for electoral representation.
3. Distinguishing Districts
In Bagabuyo v. COMELEC, the Supreme Court clearly distinguished a legislative district from a local government unit. A local government unit is a political and corporate body endowed with powers of local governance, taxation, and administration under Article X of the Constitution. In contrast, a legislative district under Article VI is merely a geographic apportionment unit for electing members of the legislature and local councils. Apportioning a city into multiple legislative districts does not divide or alter the legal existence, boundaries, or corporate identity of the city itself; thus, no plebiscite is necessary.