The Supreme Court has prevented a former congressman from seeking reversal of its decision upholding the constitutionality of the laws passed by Congress that converted 16 towns into cities.

Former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras had asked the High Court to allow him to intervene in the case and accept his motion for reconsideration of the Dec. 21, 2009 ruling on the “cityhood” row.

In a resolution released last Friday, the SC denied Paras’ motion to intervene, which automatically prevents him from seeking reversal of the controversial decision. “The Court resolved to note without action, in view of the above denial, the aforesaid motion for reconsideration-in-intervention,” stated in a one-page notice of the resolution signed by SC Clerk of Court Ma. Luisa Villarama. Last June, Paras filed his motion for reconsideration-in-intervention in which he warned that “premature conversion” of the towns into cities results in more corruption.

The December 2009 decision exempted the 16 new cities from a law that requires towns to have an annual income of P100 million to vie for cityhood. Paras joined the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) headed by Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos in asking the SC to reconsider its decision.

The LCP was concerned that the existing cities would suffer a reduced share in the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) — a subsidy given by the national government to local government units — with the creation of additional cities presumably with low income.

In his motion for reconsideration-in-intervention, Paras argued that the “conversion of Guihulngan into a city did not bring any good to the people because the sudden and abrupt increase in its IRA from P64 million to P280 million in 2008 and to about P310 million in 2009 only breeds graft and corruption.”

Guihulngan in Negros Oriental was among the 16 municipalities which cityhood laws were being blocked by the LCP before the SC. Ironically, Paras was the principal author of the law turning this municipality into city.

“By converting Guihulngan into a city, movant feels guilty of giving these grafters and unworthy local officials the opportunity to disburse the city funds to futile purposes instead of improving the health and education of the people. Such purposes are contrary to the noble purpose that movant  envisioned when he filed the cityhood bill in Congress,” Paras said.

According to Paras, the alleged corruption can be shown from various cases filed against some city officials with the Office of the Ombudsman.