Comelec challenged on funds for recall move against Panlilio

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Kapanalig at Kam­bilan neng Memalen Pampanga (Kambilan) challenged yesterday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to uphold the “constitutional right” of local folk to recall elective officials by guaranteeing funds for the possible holding of special elections.

This, even as Comelec central office’s acting budget officer Minda Songco confirmed to The Star the earlier statement of Comelec field officer for Central Luzon Teresita Ocampo that the polls body has only P5 million funds for recall polls and plebiscites.

Both Songco and Ocampo said they did not think that the success of the recall petition signature drive in this province would eventually lead to special gubernatorial elections not only because of lack of funds, but also because of lack of time. The law provides that no recall elections could be held by May next year, or a year before the next elections.

Ocampo said that 18 other recall petitions from other parts of the country, already endorsed by local Comelec offices, have been submitted to the Comelec central office which has not acted on them.

Pampanga Comelec supervisor Temmie Lambino said that some P100 million was spent for last year’s elections in his province.

Kambilan president Rosve Henson, however, said that “laws guaranteeing people empowerment through recall, including Comelec resolutions, does not say that the recall power of the people should depend on availability of funds.”

He said it is up to the Comelec to find funds, but stressed that recall elections should be held once recall petitions are duly signed by voters in accordance with all the requirements of the law.

But regardless of whether the recall move against Panlilio would lead to the holding of special elections, Henson said his group would continue to gather signatures to prove that the governor has already lost the confidence of local voters.

Moreover, the recall petition against Panlilio has increased its support.

This was also diclosed yesterday by Henson, adding that Panlilio may soon find himself undergoing the rigorous recall process “sooner than expected.”  – With Ric Sapnu