Comelec starts verifying signatures in Danao recall petition

CEBU, Philippines - The first day of the verification of signatures in the recall petition against Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. yesterday went smoothly.

Commission on Elections Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano told The FREEMAN that the committee handling the verification did not encounter any problems. Castillano said the Comelec in Danao City already set the guidelines for both parties to follow in order to fast track the verification of signatures.

Yesterday morning, only the camp of Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III sent representatives to the verification of signatures but in the afternoon, the camp of Mayor Ramon Durano Jr. sent their watchers to the verification of signatures.

 Danao City Election Registrar Dominic Ian Marigomen said both parties were invited to a pre-verification conference but the camp of Mayor Durano failed to send representatives and only Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III’s representatives attended the conference.

Marigomen enumerated house rules for the day of the verification to prevent problems and required both parties to submit a list of their designated watchers. In yesterday’s verification, Comelec only determined if the signatures are “similar, non-similar or not in the book of voters.”

The verification of the signatures is based on the order of Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Operations Bartolome Sino Cruz. He stressed that any opposition from the lawyers will not stop their office from conducting the verification of signatures. They will only forward any opposition for the Comelec en banc to resolve.

The camp of Vice Mayor Durano filed a petition for recall against Mayor Durano for loss of confidence.

The Comelec in Danao City was given nine days to complete the verification after which, Comelec will set the recall elections.  (FREEMAN)