The said activity will happen at the same time as the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections this November.
On Friday, July 17, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) En Banc, through a minute resolution, announced that it has approved the request made by the Naga City local government unit led by Mayor Leni Robredo.
Specifically, the offiicial requested thar the Plebiscite to Ratify Proclamation No. 1267, which moves to convert Naga, Camarines Sur into a Highly Urbanized City (HUC), to be held simultaneously as the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on November 2, 2026.
With Naga City being an independent component city, registered voters in the city will be the ones allowed to and will not affect the rest of the Camarines Sur province.
“Ipinahayag ang COMELEC Minute Resolution No. 26-0526 kasunod ng pag-apruba ng letter request ni Hon. Mayor Maria Leonor Gerona-Robredo na ipinadala sa Komisyon noong June 11, 2026,” the COMELEC said in a statement.
In her interview, Robredo noted, “Kasi dapat 120 days after the declaration [of Naga City being a highly urbanized city], the declaration po was May 26. Pero nag-request po kami na kung pwede, hindi na magkaroon ng separate. Isabay na lang sa barangay elections para hindi masyadong magastos. Kasi kung hindi isasabay sa barangay elections, parang doble ‘yung magiging cost. Ngayon po, na-receive ko dito yung resolution na pumayag po ’yung COMELEC.”
Meanwhile, the COMELEC also noted that there are precedents of having the plebiscites coincide with regular elections such as for Barangay New Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City; Presentacion, Camarines Sur; and Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental.
“Practically, ang ine-estimate po namin ay between 22 to 25 million kung maisasabay. So kung makikita niyo doon sa initial estimate na more than 50 million, mahigit kalahati po iyong matitipid natin,” noted COMELEC Spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco.
He added, “And besides, tama po ‘yung nabanggit kanina, dahil historically, ang plebiscites talaga, medyo mababa po ang turnout [ng voters]. 30 to 40% lang iyan at best. Ngayon, kung maisasabay natin sa Barangay and SK Elections na ang turnout po ay between 60 to 70 to 75% ay malaki ang tsansa na tataas talaga.“
The spokesman also shared that the thought of scheduling BSKE on November 2, which is All Souls’ Day, is to allow voters to return to their respective barangays to vote.
“So hopefully, ‘pag pinagsama-sama mo iyan ay mapataas natin… hindi lang ang turnout ng BSKE, kundi pati na rin po ‘yung nalalapit na plebisito doon sa Naga.” Laudiangco said.
On the funding for the plebiscite, the COMELEC official said: “Para po sa COMELEC, syempre gaya nga po ng nabanggit ko obligado po kaming humanap ng pondong manggagaling sa COMELEC.“
“Pero po, historically po kasi ang plebisito, talagang tumutulong po ang local government units diyan. At ang sabi naman po ni Mayor Leni kanina ay idudulog niya sa sanggunian, ng city council ng Naga City para magkaroon ng appropriations,” he furthered.
Laudiangco also shared, “So ganoon naman po ‘yung nangyayari sa lahat po ng plebisito na ang pondo po ang manggagaling sa Local Government Units. Dumadaan po iyan sa proper procedures ng appropriation ng respective city, municipal or provincial council.”
MAYOR ROBREDO RESPONDS TO FAKE NEWS
Meanwhile, following her visit to Manila, the Mayor Robredo received criticism from an account who called her a “liar.”
“Mula noon hanggang ngayon, I don’t usually respond to trolls. It’s a waste of time and they don’t deserve any attention. I am going to make an exception, ngayon lang,” she said. “Magtatagalog po ako kahit taga sa amin ang troll na ito dahil pinakiusapan ako ng isang tao, na hindi Bicolano, and who I hold in very high esteem, to call the attention of the public to this.“
The former Vice President called the said account a “troll” who started posting items ably her as soon as she decided to run for Mayor of Naga.
“Ang pangalan na gamit is an assumed name. Iba naghahandle nito dati. Iba na ngayon. Ang reports, isang local politician ang nagbabayad. Naging very obvious kung sino kasi nung may nakalaban na iba yung politician, siya naman tinitira. Balik sa akin ngayon dahil sa pag inspect namin ng mga sub standard na patrabaho,” she noted.
Responding to the now-deleted post, Mayor Robredo laid out nine “facts” to contradict the said post.
“Hindi po ako pumupunta sa Manila linggo linggo. Ang schedule ko, once a month and usually, Thursday or Friday ako pumupunta para I can spend the Saturday with my daughters, two of whom are here in Manila. Balik na ako sa Naga ng Sunday. Easily verifiable ito dahil nagpopost ako araw araw ng mga ginagawa ko,” she told.
Robredo also said that she visits Manila once a month to call for help from national agencies, which she told has already contributed PHP1 billion in support even before her first anniversary in office last June 30.
She also clarified that that once a month schedule only increases when she is called by agencies for follow up meetings or anyone from Naga who will get married in Manila.
“Lahat na invitations na natatanggap natin outside of Naga, nag reregrets tayo, except if connected sa Naga ang event. Hundreds ang witnesses nito,” Mayor Leni continued. “Sila yung mga nag iinvite na nag reregrets tayo. In fact, just this Graduation season, napakarami yung ni regrets natin na invitation to be Commencement Speaker dahil labas ng Naga. Only exception was Bicol University.
She also said that despite her trips being “official,” she never charges her travel expenses to the LGU.
“This is easily verifiable. In fact, we are preparing the report to respond to a request to post the travel expenses of all elected city officials. Kahit nga napakamahal ng pamasahe to Agusan when I went for the Palaro, personal expense yun.”
She also denied using a government-owned car, nor charging gasoline usage to the city. “Ang gamit ko, Aika’s (her daughter) old Tucson which she bought in 2012 but is still in very good condition.”
The city mayor also noted the post of the “troll” coincided with her supposed attendance in the Mayors League Meeting in Cebu, where she was invited by San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora for her appointment as the Adviser for Intergovernmental Affairs.
Although, that did not push through as her flight was cancelled, which led her to return to her office on the same day.
“First time ko sana mag aattend kasi pinakiusapan ako ni Mayor Francis Zamora to be present when they appoint That Wednesday, pumasok pa ako sa office from 6-9am. Umalis ako 9 to go to the airport but na cancel flight kaya bumalik ako sa office after lunch and nasa opisina ako whole day of Thursday,” she explained.
She also clarified that she took the bus to Manila to attend the meetings she had with the COMELEC, as well as with Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte.
“Hindi sinisikreto ang pagpunta ng Manila because I always make a report. And I designate Vice Mayor Gabby to be acting Mayor when I’m away. In fact, ni remind ako ng isang member of the media, inannounce ko nung Monday Presscon yung byahe ko ngayon,” she stressed.
Lastly, Robredo emphasized, “So, NO TO FAKE NEWS.“