Recall petition vs Sulu gov
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:53:00 09/08/2008
JOLO, SULU—Gov. Abdusakur Tan is facing a recall petition for allegedly canceling a livelihood program that has been deemed key to the province’s peace and order campaign.
The petition, signed by more than 62,000 voters, or about 10 percent of the province’s voting population, was filed at the Commission on Elections office here.
The petitioners were led by Alih Usman Jilah, who was represented by Alhusin Ahamad Hanani during the filing.
Lawyer Edy Lynn Santiago, counsel of the petitioners, said the names appearing in the petition had been verified before they filed it.
“The 62,631 petitioners are all registered voters in the province of Sulu,” he said.
Santiago said Tan’s arbitrary termination of the livelihood program “Arms to Farms” was the main ground cited in the petition.
Santiago said the program was aimed at “discouraging the use of firearms in the Tausug’s daily struggle for survival in the hopes for a better life.”
Tan was also accused of failing to deliver basic services and facilities to the people of Sulu, and maintain peace and order in the province, and of committing graft and corruption.
Tan has denied the charges and dismissed the petition as being orchestrated by his detractors.
Vidzfar Julie, Comelec provincial director, said the petition would be submitted to the Comelec en banc. If the commission en banc finds the petition valid, the recall election will be set within 45 days, Julie said. Ed General, Inquirer Mindanao
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