Comelec orders Mitra to answer recall petition

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday ordered Palawan Gov. Baham Mitra to answer within five days a petition seeking his recall.

Comelec said Mitra must first comment on the motion filed by the Kilusang Love Malampaya (KLM) before they would decide on the motion for reconsideration that he filed.

The KLM, led by its president Ceasar Ventura, filed a petition to recall Mitra as Palawan governor for “loss of trust and confidence occasioned by his gross violation of pertinent provisions of the Anti – Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Incompetence, Anti-Environment Policies and other related gross inexcusable negligence/dereliction of duty, intellectual dishonesty and emotional immaturity.”

KLM also questioned Mitra’s silence on the murder of journalist and environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega and for defending the alleged mastermind, former governor Joel Reyes.

The group likewise alleged that Mitra misused some P2.1 billion in Malampaya funds and has done nothing to reduce poverty in Palawan despite the billions in resources available for livelihood programs.

The KLM submitted over 158,000 signatures or more than double the 45,000 signatures required to effect a recall.

Ventura said thousands more wanted to sign the petition, but they decided to stop the signature campaign so as not to prolong the verification process.

“The number of those who signed and are willing to sign the petition for recall clearly shows how dissatisfied the Pala­weños are with Gov. Mitra. He should see the signatures on the wall,” he said.           

The Comelec earlier found the petition for recall against Mitra sufficient in form and substance.