Comelec junks recall vs Nito

CEBU, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc junked the recall petition filed by Danao City Mayor Ramon Durano Jr and his brother, former mayor and now City Administrator Jesus “Don” Durano, against their younger brother Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III and nine members of the city council.

The poll commissioners had found that the petition, filed on the basis of loss of confidence, was “insufficient” because it failed to comply with the requirements.

The four-page resolution of the Comelec en banc dated September 13, 2011was signed by Comelec Chairman Sixto S. Brillantes and Commissioners Rene V. Sarmiento, Armando Velasco, Christian Robert Lim, Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph and Augusto Lagman.

Aside from Vice Mayor Nito Durano, included in the petition were Councilors Carmen Remedios Meca, Miguel Antonio Magpale, Jorge John Cane, Jose Thaddeus Roble, Jr., Cynthia Duterte, Alejandro Lawas, Marilou Camaongay-Flores, Roland Reyes and Jovelina Enriquez.

Councilor Jesus Meca was not included in the recall petition due to his health condition.

The Comelec resolution was based on a memorandum dated September 1, and another dated Sept. 7, of Deputy Executive Director for Operations Bartolome J. Sinocruz, Jr.

The FREEMAN called and sent text messages to the lawyer of Mayor Durano but received no answer as of press time.

The camp of Vice Mayor Nito Durano was the first to file a recall petition against Mayor Durano for loss of confidence. The Comelec had found this sufficient.

It was on August 19, 2011 when Danao City Election Officer Domini Ian S. Marigomen submitted to the Comelec Central Office nine copies of the recall petition against the Danao City officials.

On August 26, 2011, Deputy Executive Director Sinocruz forwarded this to the Commission, with the recommendation that the petition be declared insufficient because it is directed against several elective officials and not just one. (FREEMAN)