Recall elections set in 3 Region 8 towns, Lucena

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the holding of recall elections in three Eastern Visayas municipalities and in Lucena City.

Adolfo Ibañez, the Comelec's Region 8 director, said he received a directive from the poll body's central office for the holding of recall elections in the Leyte towns of Palo and Mayorga and in Sta. Rita, Samar on May 8.

The subjects of the recall polls are Mayors Federico Diamante of Palo and Leticia Macariola of Sta. Rita, and councilors Genaro Lumpas and Leoncio Matol Jr. of Mayorga.

The recall polls in Sta. Rita town were supposed to be held last Dec. 21, but the Comelec shelved it due to financial constraints.

Ibañez said they are awaiting word from Comelec deputy executive director Pio Joson on the funding for the electoral exercises.

"In our level, we don't have the budget," he said.

The Comelec's approval of the recall polls left residents of Tacloban City wondering what happened to the recall petition they filed against Mayor Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez, younger brother of former First Lady Imelda Romualdez-Marcos.

Meanwhile, Comelec chairperson Harriet Demetriou said recall polls against Lucena City Mayor Bernard Tagarao will be held on May 10.

Tagarao's camp, however, intends to file an appeal with the Supreme Court for the issuance of a temporary restraining order on the recall polls.

The Comelec is also busy preparing for the recall elections in Pasay City; Mercedes, Camarines Norte; Jimalalud, Negros Oriental; and General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.