OFFICIALS of Cabanatuan City warned the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday that blood may spill if the plebiscite for upgrading to a highly urbanized city (HUC) would not be held before the May 2013 elections.

Threats of violence worried the delegation led by United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) spokesman and lawyer J.V. Bautista should the plebiscite—which was ‘arbitrarily’ cancelled by Comelec on November 27—would not be approved by the poll body.

Bautista is UNA’s official congressional candidate for Nueva Ecija’s 3rd district.

“Baka ho magkaron ng violence sa Cabanatuan City dahil ipinipilit ng gobernador [Aurelio Matias Umali] na ipanalo ang asawa niya na congresswoman at ipanalo yung kapatid niyang vice mayor [It’s possible that violence would spread in Cabanatuan City because the governor is pushing for his wife to win as a representative and his brother as vice mayor],” Bautista said.

Bautista also added that incumbent Governor Umali may use force, coercion and private army to spread fear among the city’s people.

Councilor Angelito Saklolo Jr., a member of the delegation and main proponent of upgrading Cabanatuan’s status, told The Manila Times that they have received various threats.

“May mga nakukuha akong di na ako aabot ng pasko, kung anu-anong ganun. Kami kasi yung proponent ng mga yes [I receive threats that I won’t make it until this Christmas and other sort of things because we’re the main proponent of making Cabanatuan City a HUC],” Saklolo said.

The group pointed out that Umali has been lobbying intensively against the upgrading of Cabanatuan to an urbanized city because it means lesser votes and lesser tax.

On July 4, President Benigno Aquino 3rd signed Proclamation 418, declaring Cabanatuan as a HUC subject to ratification by its residents through a plebiscite. It was initially scheduled by December 1 but the poll body postponed it after the 2013 midterm elections because of the pending case in the Regional Trial Court of Palayan City and the temporary restraining order filed in the Supreme Court against the plebiscite, the violence in the city and the poll body is on its toes preparing for the 2013 elections.

Bautista said that they are proposing the plebiscite to be held on January 4, seven days before the reconfiguration of ballots on January 11.

The group said that the city has already complied with the requirements and even allocated and spent funds for the plebiscite.

According to Administrator Roy Balagtas of Cabanatuan, the city already spent P11.65 million for printing the ballots and other paraphernalia and allotted P8.4 million for the payment of election supervisors.

If granted the HUC status, the people of Cabanatuan City would not vote anymore for any provincial posts like governor, vice-governor and provincial board members.

It would be Cabanatuan’s second plebiscite for upgrading to an urbanized city in 62 years. The first was in 1997 but the people disagreed.