Comelec okays recall move vs Sulu governor

The Commission on Elections granted last week the recall petition filed against Sulu Gov. Abdulsakur Tan.

In Resolution No. 08-0949, the Comelec en banc adopted the recommendation of the poll body’s deputy executive director for operations Bartolome Sinocruz Jr.for the Commission to certify that the petition is sufficient.

“Considering the findings of the Provincial Election Supervisor of Sulu to be in order as evaluated by the Office of the Deputy Executive Director for Operations, the Commission resolved as it hereby resolves to adopt the foregoing recommendation of the said office to certify that the Petition for Recall of Gov. Abdulsakur Tan, said province, is sufficient,” the resolution read. 

The resolution, faxed to The Star, was signed by Comelec chairman Jose A.R. Melo and the five commissioners Rene Sarmiento, Nicodemo Ferrer, Moslemen Macarambon, Leonardo Leonida, and Lucenito Tagle. 

It was learned that as a result of the Comelec promulgation, the Comelec municipal offices in Sulu have been mandated to set the next stage of the recall process which is the verification of the signatures of those whose names appear in the petition as petitioners.

In declaring the petition sufficient, the poll body relied on the findings of Sulu Comelec supervisor Vidzpar Julie who, in a report, stated that 53,075 registered voters signed the petition.

The number, he said, is more than the “10 percent required percentage (of Sulu’s voting population) or more than the required number of petitioners of 45,000.” He placed Sulu’s total voting count at 335,069. 

Ali Usman Jilah, lead petitioner, had earlier alleged that 62,631 registered voters signed the petition.