Comelec acts on recall petition vs Bulacan gov

MANILA, Philippines - A recall election in Bulacan may be forthcoming after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolved to proceed with its verification and review of the recall petition filed against Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado.

The decision of the provincial Comelec office came after the Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 22 declared that the poll body has the authority and jurisdiction in handling electoral issues, including the petition for recall against Alvarado.

The Comelec’s Bulacan office found the recall petition against Alvarado as sufficient in form and substance, and the provincial election supervisor, lawyer Elmo Duque, submitted his findings to the office of the poll body’s executive director for operations.

The findings of the provincial Comelec office would set in motion the verification and review of the recall petition filed by Perlita Mendoza, as main petitioner, against Alvarado for loss of confidence due to alleged graft and corrupt practices.

A total of 319,707 Bulakenyos signed the petition, representing more than 10 percent of the total voting population of Bulacan, which is a pre-requisite for the recall process.

Alvarado has filed a motion before the Bulacan RTC Branch 22 asking it to stop the provincial election supervisor and the provincial Comelec office from acting on Mendoza’s recall petition, but was denied.

In a resolution, Judge Grace Ruiz denied the petition for prohibition due to “lack of jurisdiction,” saying the issue should be resolved by the Comelec.

Ruiz also denied the issuance of a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction for lack of merit.

“The Constitution upgraded to constitutional status the constitutional authority of the Comelec to perform its duties and shall exercise functions to enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and recall,” the judge said.– With Dino Balabo