Supreme Court OKs designation of Maguindanao del Norte treasurer

The Supreme Court has approved a petition seeking the designation of a provincial treasurer for the Province of Maguindanao del Norte.

This came after Republic Act No. 11550 divided the province of Maguindanao into two distinct and independent provinces known as Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.

In an 18-page decision promulgated on June 26, the Supreme Court Second Division ordered the regional office of the Bureau of Local Government Finance to process the appointment of Badorie Alonzo or any other qualified person designated by the province.

“Here, we cannot allow the newly created Province of Maguindanao del Norte to be crippled without its provincial treasurer who discharges the vital task of managing the fiscal affairs of the province as the same affects the entire operation of the local government unit,” the high court said.

“Prompt action by the Court is thus necessary and exigent in this situation,” it also said in its decision.

The case stemmed from the petition for mandamus filed by Acting Governor Fatima Ainee Sinsuat.

Under RA 11550, both provinces will have corporate powers and general powers that include having a common seal and having the power to create its sources of revenue and to levy taxes, fees, and charges among others. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KBK, GMA Integrated News