Recall vs Samboan VM, councilor gains ground

CEBU, Philippines - The provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) has, so far, verified 2,981 of the 5,129 signatures submitted by seven councilors of Samboan town to support their recall petition against the town’s vice mayor and first councilor.

This figure exceeded 25 percent of the total voting population requirement or 2,520 signatures necessary for the petition to prosper.

The councilors, led by Emerito Calderon, former congressman and current president of the Samboan Association of Barangay Councils, filed the other day a petition for recall against Samboan Vice Mayor Rogelio Capa and his son-in-law, Councilor Jeffrey Catipay.

They said they lost their confidence in both officials. They reportedly heard reports that the two were planning to bolt from One Cebu Party and oppose it.

Boy Gonnie Neiz, Election Assistant 2 of the Provincial Comelec, said out of the 2,981 signatures, only two or three were not counted as they were registered voters for the October elections, not for the May elections during which Capa and Catipay were elected.

Neiz said they may finish verifying the 5,129 signatures today.

Lawyer Ferdinand Gujilde, Provincial Comelec lawyer, said the petitioners have grounds to file the petition for recall against the vice mayor and the councilor.

Gujilde said the grounds are loss of confidence, neglect of duty, betrayal of oath of office and the failure of commitment to the party.

The election officer of Samboan will then report the case to their main office in Manila to decide whether or not to hold a recall election.

Capa has said he and Catipay are not doing anything against One Cebu Party that has supported their political careers. – (FREEMAN)