Comelec junks recall petition vs Revilla’s son

SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Ecija — The Commission on Elections has junked a petition to unseat this town’s mayor, a son of Sen. Ramon Revilla, and two councilors through recall elections.

In a six-page resolution promulgated last Tuesday, the Comelec en banc granted the petition of Mayor Ramon Revilla-Bautista Jr. and municipal councilors Andres Melosan—tos and Felix Abergas to deny due course to the recall move against them.

The poll body declared as invalid three resolutions of the Preparatory Recall Assembly (PRA) for failing to attain the required majority votes of 68 out of the 135 PRA members.

The Comelec made the ruling after recognizing the withdrawal of 29 of the original 88 petitioners.

"Thus, only 59 members, in effect, would appear to have approved the (PRA) resolutions," the poll body said.

Revilla said he feels vindicated. "This is the time to unite in working for the development of San Leonardo. Let us set politics aside because in politics, the only losers will be the people of San Leonardo," he said.

He vowed to concentrate on pro-poor programs during the remainder of his term.

The recall petition against Revilla and the two councilors was filed on Sept. 7 last year by the camp of former board member Froilan Nagaño, who lost to Revilla in the 2001 elections by a mere 62 votes. Nagaño filed an electoral protect which the Comelec dismissed.

Nagaño begged off from commenting on the Comelec decision. "What for?" he asked.