Samar governor vows legal battle over recall campaign
TACLOBAN CITY—Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan and her younger brother, Vice Governor Stephen James Tan, have vowed to wage a legal battle after the Commission on Elections dismissed their motion for reconsideration on the Comelec’s decision giving a go signal to recall elections that could lead to their ouster.
“I leave it to our lawyers what to do next. I asked them to study what will be our next (legal) move,” the governor said on Thursday.
Governor Tan said she didn’t consider the Comelec dismissal of their appeal as a setback.
She said she remained confident that the recall petition would not prosper.
“It entails a long process. This is just the first step,” she said.
“The signatures of those who signed the petition would still be verified and if indeed they were the ones who signed the petition and if they were aware of what they have signed,” she said.
According to Tan, she would let her lawyers handle the matter while she would remain focused on her work as governor.
She added that if there would be recall elections, she remained confident that she would emerge victorious.
Critics of the Tans are seeking their ouster over allegations of incompetence. The sister and brother team is also being accused of being just a front for their mother, former governor and now Rep. Milagros Tan.
The Tans have repeatedly denied the accusations.
The Comelec dismissed the Tans’ motion for reconsideration on Aug. 5. On Jan. 12, the poll body ruled the recall petition against the Tans sufficient in form and substance.
