Senate urged to abolish recall assembly

The Senate was asked yesterday to amend the Local Government Code and strip barangay captains of the power to seek recall elections against local executives because it has caused "too much partisan politics."

During a hearing of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments, revision of codes and laws, critics of the Preparatory Recall Assembly (PRA) said the process was being abused and manipulated by politicians.

Taguig Mayor Freddie Tinga, former Antique Gov. Jovito Palmeras and University of the East vice president for law Dean Carlos Ortega took turns in narrating cases involving politicians who manipulate barangay officials in using the PRA to seek the ouster of incumbent local executives.

Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the committee, said the testimonies of Tinga, Plameras and Ortega support the passage of PRA phaseout bills filed by Senator Loren Legarda and Aquilino Pimentel.

Pimentel noted that the recall power given to barangays officials is being misused by unscrupulous politicians to promote their selfish ambitions and harass elected local officials.

"It is being used as a partisan political weapon, and I think that is not right. It should be abolished," he said. — Sammy Santos