To verify Danao recall signatories Comelec seeks 7-day extension

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec)-7 is asking for an additional seven days to verify the 31,000 names of Danao City residents, who supported the recall election petition filed by their Vice Mayor Ramon ‘Nito’ Durano III against his eldest brother and city Mayor, Ramon, Jr. ‘Boy’ last Monday.

According to Provincial Election Registrar Lionel Marco Castillano, they have asked for a seven-day extension due to the number of petitioners.

“Wa mi problema kon mag- checking mi, kay mandated man na sa among trabaho… we just need more time,” Castillano told The FREEMAN.

According to Castillano, they could finish the verification roughly within three working days if the petitioner submitted the minimum number of registered voters of 15,000 of the total 78,972.

However, because the petitioner submitted more than the required number of signatories, they have no choice but ask for more time.

Right after the verification of the 31,000 signatories, Comelec will file a report, which will be forwarded to their central office for approval.

Then the Comelec en banc will asses the merits of the petition.

If the Comelec en banc approves the petition, the regional office will immediately start verifying signatures if they match what is on the records.

This is last step before the poll bodyt will schedule the recall elections.

As far as Comelec-7 is concerned, they don’t have any funds to conduct any recall elections if the petition will push through.

But, Castillano clarified the commission will tap their savings to conduct the recall elections once it is approved.

Castillano also asked the residents of Danao, who are badly affected by the political disputes of the Duranos, to patiently wait as the Comelec is doing its best to hasten the petition.

“Just relax lang (residents), atong paabuton ang mando gikan sa Comelec” he said.

Recall Move

The petitioners have claimed that they have lost their trust and confidence on Mayor Durano and they want to replace him through a recall election, which is allowed by the law one year after the first year in the office of the concerned official subject to be recalled.

Any elective local official may be subjected to a recall election, but only once during his term of office for loss of confidence.

It is provided in the law that within 15 days from the filing of the petition, the Comelec officials will certify to the sufficiency of the required number of signatures. Failure to obtain the required number of signatures automatically nullifies the petition.

Once the petition is found to be sufficient in form, the Comelec shall, within three days from the issuance of the certification, provide the official subject to be recalled a copy of the petition and cause its publication in a national newspaper of general circulation and a newspaper of general circulation in the locality, once a week for 3 consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners.

Aside from publishing it in the newspapers, the copies of the petition for a recall election shall be posted in public and conspicuous places for a period of not less than 10 days nor more than 20 days, for the purpose of allowing interested parties to examine and verify the validity of the petition and the authenticity of the signatures contained therein.

The elective local official, who is the subject of the recall, shall not be allowed to resign while the process is in progress.

Anybody who wishes to challenge the recall petition may file a protest within the 20 days period and the Comelec is required to make a ruling about it with finality within 15 days from the date of filing of such protest or challenge.

After the lapse of the 20-day period, the Comelec shall announce the acceptance of candidates and thereafter prepare the list of candidates which shall automatically include the name of the official sought to be recalled.

Among the reasons why Vice Mayor Durano initiated the recall election against his brother are the delay in the release of salaries of casual and job order employees of the city and the delay in the release of allowances for Barangay Health Workers, Barangay Nutrition Councilors, and the Barangay tanods.

The vice mayor claimed that he and members of the city council, including the presidents of the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation and the Association of Barangay Councils, had decided to initiate the recall because Mayor Durano abandoned his campaign promises.

There were fears that the recall petition could trigger a confrontation between the two brothers like what happened in the past when their brothers Jesus ‘Don’ and Thadeo reportedly shot at each other.

Police Regional Director Ager Ontog said he is ready to send some 40 to 50 more personnel to augment the police force in Danao City if the political situation there escalates.

He ordered Cebu Provincial Police director Patrocinio Comendador to assess the peace and order situation in Danao City and to report to him immediately. —/NLQ (FREEMAN)