Comelec completes verification of signatures

THE  Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Cebu province yesterday said it finished  verifying all  5,129 registered voters who signed the recall petition against two municipal officials of Samboan town.

All documents of the case will be sent  by the Samboan election office to Cebu City, said Provincial Comelec Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Samboan Comelec office verified 2,800 signatures, which is more than the required number of 2,500 signatures.

The documents will be sent to the Comelec main office in Manila.

Last Monday, Emerito Calderon, former congressman and current president of the Samboan Association of Barangay Councils, led the filing of the petition against Vice Mayor Rogelio Capa and his son-in-law, Jeffrey Catipay.

They cited “loss of confidence” in the two officials.

Calderon said they heard reports that both officials were planning to bolt from the administration One Cebu party.

Capa denied  the allegation.

He said they are incapable of breaking away from the party that supported their political careers.

Capa said they will answer the petition for recall at the right time.

In Danao City, the recall petition of Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III against his brother Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. remains pending with the Comelec  en banc.

A motion for  reconsideration  filed by Mayor  Durano has not yet been decided.

“If the Comelec order comes, that’s when the verification of signatures will start,” said Castillano.

Only after signatures are verified can the Comelec schedule  recall elections, Castillano said. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus