The Supreme Court has ordered the Solicitor General to comment a petition challenging the law creating the Negros Island Region (NIR).
Republic Act No. 12000 created the NIR composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental, including Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
Six Negros Oriental and Siquijor residents filed the petition before the SC on August 30 seeking the issuance of a temporary restraining order/or writ of preliminary injunction to halt the creation of the new region, and for it to be declared unconstitutional.
The petition was filed versus the Republic of the Philippines through the Office of the Solicitor General by petitioners Fr. Hendrix C. Alar, Dr. Maria Lina R. Eparwa, Engr. Wilfredo L. Magallano and lawyers Marcelino C. Maxino, Jose Imaculado L. Palmitos, and Grace A. Sumalpong.
The SC required the solicitor general to file a comment to the petition and prayer for TRO within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice.*