BACOLOD CITY — Leaders of Negros Occidental are leaving it to the Supreme Court to decide on the fate of the Negros Island Region (NIR). Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is leaving it to the high court to decide on the petition to nullify the NIR Act, which was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Lacson issued the statement after six individuals filed a temporary restraining order with the Supreme Court, claiming that the creation of NIR was illegal as it was not submitted to the people through a plebiscite, nor was a public consultation held. "It's a free country. Anybody can file a petition before the SC when they want to. But it will be up to SC to decide, what is best and how to treat that petition," said Lacson, adding that many are saying that "NIR is good for the three provinces, contrary to claims." On Wednesday, Negros Occidental's 5th District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo said the issues raised by the petitioners against the creation of the NIR "will not fly." Yulo, one of the authors of Republic Act 12000 that created the new administrative region, clarified that "it is allowed under the law that anyone can seek a legal remedy to question the constitutionality of the law." "We have always conducted everything in accordance with what is provided by the law," said Yulo. "As to the question that there was no plebiscite, it is applicable only in the creation of a local government unit and not in an administrative region," Yulo pointed out. "We respect their rights. It is a legislative prerogative and an exercise of executive wisdom," he said. Yulo, however, expressed concern that if the Supreme Court issues a temporary restraining order, "it will momentarily delay the process of implementing the NIR." The petitioners, Rev. Fr. Hendrix Alar, Lina Eparwa, Wilfredo Magallano, Marcelino Maxino, Jose Imaculado Palmitos and Grace Sumalpong, filed a temporary restraining order in the Supreme Court. Yulo said that it will be the Office of the Solicitor General who will answer the petition. There are no oppositors in the side of Negros Occidental, he said. He also said he will not venture into the motive behind the petition. Eleven legislators from Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Siqujior authored the law that created the NIR. Yulo and Abang Lingkod Rep. Stephen Joseph Paduano are among the 11 legislators. The NIR law was signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in June this year.