NEWS BRIEFS

Oliva stays in Cebu City

CEBU City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva will remain at the Cebu City Treasurer’s Office after the Department of Finance approved her extension.

In last Wednesday’s press conference, Mayor Michael Rama said the DOF should ask the mayors or governors before moving the treasurers to other local government units (LGUs).

Oliva was rumored to transfer to the Mandaue City Treasurer’s Office, which her son Mandaue City Treasurer Regal Oliva denied. Correspondent Giovanni F. Garcia

Durano recall petition

RESULTS of the verification of the 31,000 residents who signed the recall petition of Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. were sent to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Manila yesterday.

Danao City Comelec officer Dominic Ian Marigomen flew to Manila yesterday morning to submit the Comelec Provincial Office’s report and the copy of the recall petition to Comelec Manila.

“We are hoping that Comelec will act on it within the time frame set forth under RA 9244,” said Danao City Councilor John Cane, one of the petitioners.

Under RA 9244 or “An Act Eliminating the Preparatory Recall Assembly as a Mode of Instituting Recall of Elective Local Government Officials,” once the petition is found to be sufficient in form, the Comelec or its duly authorized representative shall submit a copy of the petition to the respondent.

The petition will be published in a national newspaper of general circulation and a newspaper of general circulation in the locality once a week for three consecutive weeks at the expense of the petitioners.

In a phone interview, Comelec Provincial Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano said they will begin verification of signatures after their Manila office finishes verifying the results.

Out of the 31,000 who signed the recall petition, only 28,902 were verified by Comelec Province as registered voters of Danao City.

The recall petition was filed before Comelec Danao last week.

The petitioners were Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III and his City Council.

The petitioners cited among the mayor’s violations his directive threatening the council with criminal and administrative sanctions for not approving his proposed 2011 budget.

They also complained about the failure to deliver financial and material assistance to some barangays.

The council said the screening and hiring of employees was done at the mayor’s house in Mabini Street, barangay Poblacion in Danao City.

Among the appointments the council questioned was lawyer Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu as City Legal Officer.

Dalawampu said a recall petition against the vice mayor and the council will be filed next week. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus