Comelec to verify signatures

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) will soon start verifying the signatures of people who signed the recall petition against Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr.

The Comelec in Cebu province already received a copy of the en banc resolution that deemed the petition sufficient in form, said Lionel Marco Castillano, provincial election supervisor.

Early last month, Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III sought the recall of his brother, citing as grounds “loss of confidence and gross incompetence,” among others.

Attached in the recall petition against the mayor were the signatures of at least 31,000 voters.

Castillano said the petitioners need 12,700 signatures so a recall election may be conducted.

The number represents 20 percent of Danao City’s voting population of 63,000 based on the National Statistics Office census in 2007.

Castillano said representatives of both camps may witness the verification of votes, which is to determine whether the signatures are valid.

He said a report will be submitted to the Comelec in Manila after the verification of votes.

A hearing will be conducted by the poll agency.

If the Comelec will find sufficient basis to uphold the petition, Castillano said an election for the mayoralty seat in Danao City will conducted.

Boy Durano, the subject of the recall petition, is automatically a candidate if ever a recall election would be made.

Last July 27, Boy also filed his own recall petition against Nito.

Boy said Nito has been “encroaching in his powers as mayor.”

The brothers have filed a string of charges against each other before the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas, the prosecutor’s office and the Comelec.