Comelec suspends recall proceedings

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a resolution suspending actions on all pending recall petitions.

Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes said yesterday the Comelec does not have the budget to hold recall elections, adding that they are pressed for time since the last day to hold them is a day before the scheduled May 13, 2013 mid-term elections.

“We need two months to prepare for a recall election. That means that by March 12, we should be starting the preparations already. We cannot do that anymore,” Brillantes said.

The Comelec has received 34 recall petitions, 14 of which were found to be sufficient in form and substance.

“To do 14 recall elections, we need P100 million. But we are given only P1 million annually for recall elections, plebiscite and referendum,” Brillantes said.

In deciding recall petitions, the Comelec first determines if a petition is sufficient in form and substance. The poll body then creates a verification committee that will validate the signatures in a petition. 

A recall election is set after at least 10 percent of the registered voters in an area have signed the petition.

Brillantes said delays in recall proceedings are usually caused by various motions and pleadings filed by both parties.

Among the recall petitions pending with the Comelec were against Palawan Gov. Abraham Khalil Mitra; Danao City, Cebu Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr.; Samboan, Cebu Vice Mayor Rogelio Capa; Cebu Councilor Jeffrey Catipay; and Lamitan City, Basilan Vice Mayor Arleigh Eisma.

In a related development, the Comelec has junked for lack of evidence the electoral sabotage complaint filed against Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte by former Speaker Prospero Nograles over the latter‘s defeat in the May 2010 elections.

The Comelec resolution, which was signed by Comelec Commissioners Lucenito Tagle , Elias Yusop and Agusto Lagman was issued last March 5.

The Comelec cited Duterte’s wide margin of votes compared to that of Nograles in junking the complaint. Nograles garnered only 160, 225 as against Duterte’s 388,465  votes.

Duterte said she felt vindicated by the Comelec decision. “I am happy and a lot of people are happy with the decision of the Comelec,” she said. – With Edith Regalado