Recall petition vs. Danao mayor now with Comelec

CEBU, Philippines - The petition for recall against Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. was already forwarded to the central office of the Commission on Elections yesterday.

Danao City election registrar Dominic Ian Marigomen brought the documents to Manila early yesterday morning, said Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano.

The provincial Comelec immediately began the tedious process of verification of the 31,000 signatures of Danao City residents who signed the recall petition presented by Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III and the council last July 4.

Castillano said the Comelec Manila will determine if the petition has sufficient grounds and it will be returned to them for further verification of signatures.

The verification earlier conducted was to determine if signatories are all registered voters of Danao City.

The local Comelec is expecting another tedious job after the camp of Boy is set to file next week a counter-petition for recall against his elder brother Nito and all the members of Danao City Council.

Lawyer Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu earlier said that they gathered 35,000 signatures.

The Comelec requires at least 15 percent of the voters to sign a recall petition for it to be given due course.

There were a total of 78,972 voters in Danao City as of the elections last year.

A budget dispute, breakdown in services and questionable appointments were cited as grounds by barangay and city officials for their recall petition against the mayor.

Boy’s camp also cited some grounds such as usurpation of functions by Nito on the functions of the mayor who is now facing several usurpation cases regarding disbursement vouchers and checks by himself and other usurpation cases of disbursement vouchers involving his son, Thomas Mark, who was then the private secretary of Boy, in favor of the two daughters of Nito, Carmen Durano-Meca and Ramonit Mahinay, who are members of the council. (FREEMAN)