By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—After failing to receive
an answer to a resolution the Ilocos Norte Sangguniang Panlalawigan addressed
to the Apayao provincial board, SP member Atty. Vicentito M. Lazo has proposed
the filing of a petition for mandamus, compelling the latter to thresh out
issues regarding a long dragging boundary dispute between two provinces.
According to Atty. Lazo, a
resolution was sent to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Apayao through its
Vice Governor Hector Pascua but said officials failed to act on it even after a
period of 60 days, the latter was expected to send a reply.
“A verification made with the
secretariat revealed that this resolution of ours was received by the SP of
Apayao in May 20, 2014 and more than 60 days has lapsed but still there is no
action on the part of the Apayao SP,” Atty. Lazo explained.
Based on the Local Government
Code, a boundary dispute involving two provinces must be
endorsed to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the contesting municipalities for
amicable settlement. Should there be no amicable settlement within 60 days from
the date of filing, then the aggrieved party may file a case at the judiciary.
In view of this, the Ilocos
Norte board is set to file a petition for mandamus at the Regional Trial Court
of Bangui to compel the legislative body of Apayao to sit down with the
provincial board of Ilocos Norte to settle the case.
The
Ilocos Times tried to get the reaction of
Vice Governor Pascua but the Apayao official has not responded as of press
time.
Over the past 16 years,
residents of Sitio Bucarot located in the remotest part of Adams, Ilocos Norte
are confused over the long-standing territorial feud that have been reignited
in recent years with the opening of roads connecting to Brgy. Tanglagan of
Calanasan in Apayao.
For his part, former Apayao Rep.
now Calanasan Mayor Elias Bulut Sr. said earlier in an interview that the issue
is a technical matter and it requires technical experts too. He said the Apayao
government is ready to resolve the case in the proper forum.
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