CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Critics of Gov. Eddie Panlilio have resurrected hopes for their recall petition against Gov. Eddie Panlilio as they expected fresh funds provided by Congress to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for holding of a possible special gubernatorial elections in Pampanga.
Rosve Henson, founder and president of the Kapanalig at Kambilan da reng Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan), which initiated the recall petition, cited yesterday reports that the Comelec en banc has already approved their petition as “sufficient in form and substance”.
But in a telephone interview with Punto, lawyer Genevieve Gueverra of the Comelec’s operations division in Manila, denied that the polls body has already issued any resolution on Kambilan’s petition..
She also clarified that the Comelec has not lifted its resolution dated last Nov. 13 suspending action on all approved or pending recall petitions arising from lack of funds. “We had a request for Congress to allocate some P93.1 million for recall petition needs, but the suspension last Nov. 13 has not been suspended,” she stressed.
“It’s our office that screens and recommends on the sufficiency in form and substance of all recall petitions from all over the country. While our office recommended the petition against Gov. Panlilio, the Comelec en banc has not acted on it,” she said after checking her office’s official list of recall petitions.
Guevarra said, however, that the Comelec en banc had already declared as sufficient other recall petitions, including those filed against Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, Cabuyao Mayor Isidro Hemedes Jr., Mauban Mayor Rexito Bantayan, and Pantabangan Vice Mayor Rossman Carry Uera.
But she said the Comelec en banc eventually approves all recall petitions recommended by her office..
Earlier, Comelec chairman Jose Melo said he would consult with his other commissioners on how to deal with their predicament on the use of the limited P50 million, which is short of P43 million the polls body had sought from Congress.
Panlilio’s lawyer Romulo Macalintal, in a text message to Punto, said that prioritizing Pampanga in the funds for recall elections “could be perceived as influenced politically”.
Panlilio won in the 2007 gubernatorial race over two administration candidates Lilia Pineda of the Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) and then Gov. Mark Lapid of Lakas Party. He won by 1,147 votes over closest rival Pineda who still has a pending electoral protest before the Supreme Court.
“It would be dangerous if the Comelec is allowed to be selective. If ever, the Comelec should do it (fund recall elections) on a first-in, first-out basis to really show its independence and avoid the dictates of the ‘hooting throngs’”, he said.
Guevarra clarified, however, that the scheduling of special elections does not depend on which was first submitted to the Comelec, but on which petition’s signatures could be verified as authentic first by the Comelec.
“The verification of signatures can be done despite any motion for reconsideration that could be filed by the other party,” she stressed.
Kambilan garnered over 220,000 signatures for the recall petition, or more than half the 10 percent of the total number of registered local voters specified by law.
Still, however, Kabilan’s petition apparently has the most number of signatures to be verified than other recall petitions now at the Comelec, as the others are from smaller provinces and towns with fewer voters.
At the same time, Henson said that the P50-million Comelec funds could be augmented from the Special Purpose Funding from the government’s general appropriations. “Such fund is always in the budget and they amount to something like P900 million yearly. They can be used for special recall elections,” he said.
He noted reports citing provincial Comelec chief Temmie Lambino as saying that some P24 million would be needed for a special gubernatorial polls in Pampanga if the elections, up to the proclamation of winner, could be finished in 24 hours.
Henson said that reports on fresh Comelec funds have fueled “whispers” among local mayors and business groups which have been circulating “three to four names of possible candidates” against Panlilio in case of a special elections.
Among those reportedly interested are Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao and provincial board member Chris Garbo.
Rosve Henson, founder and president of the Kapanalig at Kambilan da reng Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan), which initiated the recall petition, cited yesterday reports that the Comelec en banc has already approved their petition as “sufficient in form and substance”.
But in a telephone interview with Punto, lawyer Genevieve Gueverra of the Comelec’s operations division in Manila, denied that the polls body has already issued any resolution on Kambilan’s petition..
She also clarified that the Comelec has not lifted its resolution dated last Nov. 13 suspending action on all approved or pending recall petitions arising from lack of funds. “We had a request for Congress to allocate some P93.1 million for recall petition needs, but the suspension last Nov. 13 has not been suspended,” she stressed.
“It’s our office that screens and recommends on the sufficiency in form and substance of all recall petitions from all over the country. While our office recommended the petition against Gov. Panlilio, the Comelec en banc has not acted on it,” she said after checking her office’s official list of recall petitions.
Guevarra said, however, that the Comelec en banc had already declared as sufficient other recall petitions, including those filed against Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan, Cabuyao Mayor Isidro Hemedes Jr., Mauban Mayor Rexito Bantayan, and Pantabangan Vice Mayor Rossman Carry Uera.
But she said the Comelec en banc eventually approves all recall petitions recommended by her office..
Earlier, Comelec chairman Jose Melo said he would consult with his other commissioners on how to deal with their predicament on the use of the limited P50 million, which is short of P43 million the polls body had sought from Congress.
Panlilio’s lawyer Romulo Macalintal, in a text message to Punto, said that prioritizing Pampanga in the funds for recall elections “could be perceived as influenced politically”.
Panlilio won in the 2007 gubernatorial race over two administration candidates Lilia Pineda of the Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) and then Gov. Mark Lapid of Lakas Party. He won by 1,147 votes over closest rival Pineda who still has a pending electoral protest before the Supreme Court.
“It would be dangerous if the Comelec is allowed to be selective. If ever, the Comelec should do it (fund recall elections) on a first-in, first-out basis to really show its independence and avoid the dictates of the ‘hooting throngs’”, he said.
Guevarra clarified, however, that the scheduling of special elections does not depend on which was first submitted to the Comelec, but on which petition’s signatures could be verified as authentic first by the Comelec.
“The verification of signatures can be done despite any motion for reconsideration that could be filed by the other party,” she stressed.
Kambilan garnered over 220,000 signatures for the recall petition, or more than half the 10 percent of the total number of registered local voters specified by law.
Still, however, Kabilan’s petition apparently has the most number of signatures to be verified than other recall petitions now at the Comelec, as the others are from smaller provinces and towns with fewer voters.
At the same time, Henson said that the P50-million Comelec funds could be augmented from the Special Purpose Funding from the government’s general appropriations. “Such fund is always in the budget and they amount to something like P900 million yearly. They can be used for special recall elections,” he said.
He noted reports citing provincial Comelec chief Temmie Lambino as saying that some P24 million would be needed for a special gubernatorial polls in Pampanga if the elections, up to the proclamation of winner, could be finished in 24 hours.
Henson said that reports on fresh Comelec funds have fueled “whispers” among local mayors and business groups which have been circulating “three to four names of possible candidates” against Panlilio in case of a special elections.
Among those reportedly interested are Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao and provincial board member Chris Garbo.
