Supreme Court to Comelec: Don’t proclaim Princesa recall poll winner

The Supreme Court stopped the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday from proclaiming the winner in the mayoral recall election in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan which was held yesterday.

In a two-page resolution, Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. granted the petition of Ma. Flores Adovo, Mercy Gilo and Bienvenido Ollave who sought to postpone the proclamation of the winner through a temporary restraining order.

The tribunal instructed the poll body to wait for its order before proclaiming the winner.

Last Sept. 4, the High Court stopped the Comelec from holding the recall election on Sept. 7, as scheduled, to give the candidates 15 more days to campaign.

It acted on the request of incumbent Puerto Princesa Mayor Victorino Dennis Socrates and Vicente Sandoval who, together with former mayor Edward Hagedorn, vied in the recall election.

The Comelec and Preparatory Recall Assembly (PRA) officials Mark David Hagedorn, Benjamin Jarilla, Earl Buenviaje and Carlos Aballa were barred from implementing Comelec Resolution 5673 which set the recall poll on Sept. 7.

Earlier, Socrates had accused Hagedorn, Rep. Abraham Mitra and Sandoval, son of Palawan Rep. Vicente Sandoval Sr., of orchestrating the recall move against him.

Socrates said the three connived to force barangay officials to start the recall process. He dismissed the PRA as "a sham, a moro-moro, a zarzuela, a mere rump session." — Delon Porcalla