House adopts resolution preventing the disenfranchisement of 'EMBO' voters

The House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted House Concurrent Resolution No. 37, which seeks to include the 10 Enlisted Men's Barrios (EMBO) barangays in the legislative districts of Taguig City and Municipality of Pateros. 

The congressmen adopted the resolution filed by Taguig-Pateros Lone District Representative Ricardo Cruz, Jr. through viva-voce voting. 

The resolution states that the 1st district will include Comembo, Pembo, and Rizal while the 2nd district will include Cembo, South Cembo, East Rembo, West Rembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, and Post Proper Southside. 

“In response to the expression of will of the people of Taguig and to ensure that 208, 716 registered voters in the 10 EMBO barangays are not disenfranchised and the 336,873 residents are not left without representation in the House of Representatives, the EMBO barangays are hereby apportioned to the two legislative districts of the City of Taguig and the Municipality of Pateros,” the concurrent resolution read. 

The resolution also proposes to increase from eight to 12 the number of councilors in each district of Taguig. 

Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday had a heated discussion over the adoption of a similar resolution in the Senate after the latter questioned the discussion of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23 as this was not part of the Senate's agenda for the plenary session on Tuesday.

A video went viral where the two were seen shouting at each other while the session was suspended.

Cayetano justified the urgency of adopting the resolution as this concerns how the residents of EMBO barangays will vote for their congressmen and councilors.

The resolution was still adopted by the senators. — BAP, GMA Integrated News