Danao VM told to accept defeat in recall poll move

CEBU, Philippines - Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. yesterday urged his brother Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III and members of the city council to accept the decision of the Commission on Elections not to push through with the recall election in Danao for lack of budget.

In a press conference, Mayor Durano said the city government has P385 million in funds ready to finance the livelihood projects for poor residents of the city, but they cannot succeed without the support and cooperation of Vice Mayor Durano and members of the city council.

He also said he wants to push through with the bulk water project in the city that was affected by the squabbling between him and his brother.

But Danao City Councilor John Cane, who represents Vice Mayor Durano, said that the fight is not over yet.

“It ain’t over until the fat lady sings! We are confident Comelec will reconsider its ruling once budget will be provided either by the national or provincial government for the recall election,” Cane said.

He further said that one cannot cooperate with another official who does not recognize the legislative branch as a co-equal branch but a mere subordinate.

“This is evidenced in the proposed 2012 budget where the council got zero budget for its MOOE, capital outlay, traveling expenses, etc.,” Cane said.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said holding recall elections at this time is close to impossible because Congress did not approve the budget for this and the poll body is running out of time.

Mayor Durano said Vice Mayor Durano and members of the city council should wait for the 2013 elections.

The mayor’s lawyer Gloria Dalawampu said despite the order of Comelec not to push through with the recall elections, their complaint for disbarment against City Election Registrar Dominic Ian Marigonmen will push through, as well as the complaints against the other election registrars who participated in the verification of signatures.

Mayor Durano also said he was vindicated when the Danao City Fire Department released an official report that the fire that hit the Comelec office there was due to an overheating computer.

City Fire Marshall Ronaldo Orbeta, who attended the same press conference, showed the media a report stating that the cause of the fire was not arson.

Mayor Durano said councilors Cane and Jose Thaddeus Roble insinuated that he ordered the office burned and directed Dalawampu to prepare the complaint for libel against the two.

“Let them file any case they want but first they should review the statements I issued to the press, because I never said it was the mayor who burned the Comelec. On the contrary they were the ones who accused us of arson because our petition for recall did not allegedly prosper and wanted to put the blame on the mayor,” Cane said in his reply. (FREEMAN)