Comelec OKs Cabadbaran recall poll

CABADBARAN CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the recall petition filed against Mayor Katrina Mortola of this city.

In a three-page resolution dated March 20 and obtained by The STAR yesterday, the full commission ordered Comelec officer Mark Christer Sorilla to certify that the number of voters who signed the recall petition is sufficient.

The resolution also ordered the Comelec deputy executive director for operations to schedule the election.

The poll body said 10,651 of the 12,044 registered voters who signed the petition were verified to be “authentic, true and correct” and more than the 20 percent required to push for  a recall election.

“We were given three days as required by law to verify the 12,044 signatories…Only 8,947 of the total 44,737 registered voters  are needed. The number of signatories is more than 2,000 higher than the requirement,” Sorilla said.

Supporters of defeated mayoral bet Judy Amante filed the petition last Aug. 7.

Agusan del Norte Gov. Maria Angelica Amante-Matba said their petition stemmed from Mortola’s poor governance, which caused divisiveness among Cabadbaranons.

“I hope you Cabadbaranons will serve as an inspiration to other voters in the province and in the country…that whenever constituents find elected officials no longer relevant, a disservice instead of providing good public service, we will initiate this petition for a recall mechanism,” Matba told a crowd of supporters and allies.

Homer Mabale, counsel for the petitioners, said they hoped the recall election would push through in October.