MANILA Councilor Ma. Lourdes “Bonjay” Isip-Garcia said the petitioners of the People’s Initiative Against Ordinance 8187 will directly ask the Supreme Court (SC) to issue a mandamus to compel the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to proceed with the initiative in accordance with law.  
     
Comelec Resolution No. 09-0578 (dated Sept. 8, 2009) denied the petition on a technicality, claiming that since it was submitted to the Manila City Council on June 23, 2009, it should have been submitted to the Comelec on or before July 23, within a 30-day period. The petition was submitted to Comelec only last Aug. 25.
    
The petition aims to revoke Ordinance 8187 which allows the Pandacan oil depots (of Chevron, Petron and Pilipinas Shell) to stay and permits highly pollutive and extremely hazardous industries. The petitioners want the depots relocated to the countryside.
 
The petition is part of a direct people’s action, in accordance with the Local Government Code and Republic Act 6735 (Initiative and Referendum Act), which provides procedures for registered voters to directly repeal an ordinance.