GAPAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – Mayor Christian Tinio and three other local officials, are facing a recall petition filed by two individual including the brother of the former mayor before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for “loss of confi-dence.”
The petition, filed by Romeo Natividad, a resident of Barangay San Lorenzo and Reynaldo Guitierrez of Barangay San Nicolas, both of this city, bear the supposed signatures of some 20,000 voters or 34 percent of the 59, 139 registered voters, which is higher than the 20 percent requirement under Section 6 of Comelec Resolution No. 7505.
Natividad is the brother of former Mayor Ernesto Natividad. Ernesto and Tinio were former allies but severed last elections when the former fielded his wife, Baby, against the latter for the mayoralty post.
Aside from Tinio, also sought for recall in an 11-page petition lodged before the office of the Acting Comelec City Election Officer Belen Rivera were Vice Mayor Rodel Matias and Councilors Marcelino Alvarez and Eliser Padiernos.
However, Tinio lashed back at the petitioners saying it is a “sham” and “an act of desperation.”
“The former mayor’s camp would just want to keep the hope of his followers burning until the next elections since the election protest filed by his wife is going nowhere,” Tinio said.
In their petition, the petitioners cited loss of trust and confidence as provided for in Sections 69 and 75 of the Local Government Code and alleged gross violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act as the basis for the recall.
They cited, among others, Tinio and his group’s having alleged conflict of interest and entering into disadvantageous contracts and acts of oppression.
“I think it was their way of trying to boost the sagging morale of their supporters who have been demoralized by the developments in the election protest,” Tinio said.
While the Comelec has yet to verify signatures, the petition filed on December 20, 2011, Tinio said the process of collecting them was allegedly marred by massive disinformation.
He said most signatories claimed they were made to believe the signatures will be basis of relief operations since the campaign started right after the twin Typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel.”
Others thought it was for Christmas gifts, he said.
The former mayor, however, expressed belief the recall petition was a result of discontent of residents on Tinio’s administration.
“Hindi nasisiyahan ang tao sa kanyang pamamahala. Ibinabaon niya ang lungsod sa utang,” Natividad said.
“We are extremely confident that the petition will be dismissed for its utter lack of merit,” Tinio said.
Among the basis mentioned in the recall petition was the move of the city government to transfer the “Monday Tiangge” to the vicinity of a subdivision reportedly owned by Tinio’s family, based on a resolution passed by the city council through Matias, Alvarez and Padiernos.
The petitioners said this made the conflict of interest.
But Tinio said that the transfer was made, upon approval of the city council, to heed the cry of regular vendors at the public market who pay fees but allegedly suffer losses due to “tiangge” in the area.
The petitioners also slammed Tinio for the procurement of P120-million worth of heavy equipment from the loans worth P230-million and the construction of another wet market.
“Ang pangungutang ng isang LGU ay hindi basta basta. Maraming prosesong dinadaanan at hindi makakautang kung hindi ka makakabayad,” Tinio argued. Entering into a loan agreement, he said, is essential to fast track programs and projects of a local government.
With the heavy equipment that includes ten dump trucks, the mayor said, several projects especially for schools have been implemented on time.
