Comelec to set recall polls vs Palawan mayor

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is preparing to hold a recall election for the mayoral post in Puerto Princesa, Palawan after it affirmed the validity of the signatures on a recall petition filed against Mayor Lucilo Bayron.

The Comelec dismissed Bayron’s appeal questioning the verification of signatures conducted by the election officer in Puerto Princesa. 

The poll body said Bayron failed to support his claims that the verification process was not accomplished within the period allowed, from Feb. 20 to Feb. 28.

It denied the mayor’s claims that the election officers erred in validating some of the signatures.

Records showed that of the 32,418 verified signatures, 10,092 were declared invalid.

The Comelec denied Bayron’s allegations that the election officers failed to act on some of his manifestations. 

It said the mayor was given the opportunity to raise objections during the verification process, but failed to do so.

The poll body said the records did not show that Bayron supported his objections with evidence.

It said the grounds invoked by the mayor were mere procedural irregularities that do not merit dismissal of the petition.

The Comelec ordered the election officers in Puerto Princesa to certify that the total number of valid signatures and thumb marks meets the minimum number of petitioners required for the conduct of the recall election.

The poll body’s deputy executive director for operations was ordered to set the schedule for the recall election.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said Bayron could still file an appeal with the Supreme Court.