LAOAG CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is all set to hold a special plebiscite on dividing the small town of Dumalneg in Ilocos Norte’s first district into three barangays.
Director Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. of the Ilocos Norte Police said Tuesday additional police personnel would be deployed to Dumalneg to ensure the smooth flow of the activity scheduled on Saturday.
Nartatez reminded everyone that the exercise is a non-political exercise.
Located about 73 km. from Laoag, Dumalneg is a fifth-class municipality with a population of more than 3,000, mostly composed of Indigenous People communities.
In August 2012, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Dumalneg in its territorial dispute with neighboring Bangui over the jurisdiction of Barangay San Isidro.
As a result, town officials led by Mayor Lairvee Espiritu proposed that the single barangay of Dumalneg be split into three barangays.
Republic Act No. 10955 divides Barangay Dumalneg in Ilocos Norte into three barangays — Kalaw, Cabaritan and Quibel.
The Comelec issued Resolution No. 10265 for the conduct of the plebiscite on Saturday. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)
