'Only Comelec funds can be used for recall polls'

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – No funds directly from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), no recall election.

A special recall election for governor in this province will not be approved by the Comelec unless the poll body is first provided some P24 million for it but which it does not have.

In an interview with The STAR, Ferdinand Rafanan, legal department chief of the Comelec central office, said the law provides that funds for such an election cannot directly come from other sources, except the Comelec. 

“Any funds needed for recall elections must be provided only by the Comelec, and no other source,” Rafanan stressed.

This, as Comelec Chairman Jose Melo himself earlier admitted that the poll body does not have enough budget for recall polls.

The Kapanalig at Kambilan neng Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan), which initiated the recall move against Gov. Eddie Panlilio, expects to gather the 100,000 required signatures by this month so that its petition, citing loss of confidence in Panlilio’s leadership, could be submitted for Comelec approval next month.

Kambilan president Rosve Henson said he expects the special gubernatorial poll to be held this December or January next year.

Last week, Melo said his office lacks funds for recall polls, as the budget department has allocated only P5 million for recall polls and plebiscites.  

Melo said the Comelec can carry out recall elections only if it is provided the needed funds.    

Kambilan, however, insisted that the Comelec has the duty to seek funds for approved recall petitions once all the legal requirements for these are fulfilled.

Still, Rafanan said the Comelec will not approve any recall election in the first place unless it is sure it has funds for it.