‘Puerto recall petition a political storm’

MANILA, Philippines - The camp of Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo Bayron yesterday described as “political storm” the petition for recall filed against him with the local Commission on Elections office last Monday.

The petition seeking the ouster of Bayron cites the rising criminality and drastic drop in tourist arrivals in the city.

However, city tourism officer Aileen Amurao and Senior Superintendent Mamerto Valencia, city police chief, believed otherwise.

Based on records, Amurao said the six percent decline in tourist arrivals was reported in the last six months of 2013, and tourist arrivals went up during the last quarter last year up to the present.

She said tourist arrivals for January reached 66,438 compared to 61,092 in 2013. Tourists visiting the Underground River recorded a seven percent increase as of this month.

Valencia, for his part, attributed the increase in criminality to the changes in reporting being implemented by the Philippine National Police.

Reports included unconfirmed ones in barangay and police blotters that were excluded in PNP reports in the previous year, he said.

The recall petition was filed by former city public information officer Al Ruben Goh; Ali Babao, husband of former city executive assistant Conchita Babao; Mary Ann Vasquez, a former executive assistant; and Joey Mirasol, who initiated the recall against former governor Baham Mitra in 2012.