Comelec OKs San Juan recall polls

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has granted the recall petition filed against San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez allegedly by supporters of former San Juan vice mayor Francis Zamora.

The Comelec “has ruled on the sufficiency of the recall petition” but gave both parties three days to file their motion for reconsideration (MR), spokesman James Jimenez said.

“The three-day period for filing MRs will commence upon receipt of notice by the parties. To date, we have not received a report of receipt,” he said.

Jimenez could not ascertain what led the poll body to such a finding.

Last May, Sophia Patricia Gil, Raul Sevilla, Raymond Alzona and Jun Paul Aquino filed the petition, citing Gomez’s alleged “graft and corruption, incompetence, abuse of power and dereliction of duty.”

The petitioners were reportedly supporters of Zamora, whom Gomez defeated in the 2016 mayoral race.

Jimenez added that when the recall elections pushed through, Gomez will automatically be a candidate while other aspirants will have to file their certificates of candidacy.

JV: Don’t bully my mom

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito yesterday warned the camp of the former vice mayor and his father, San Juan Rep. Ronald Zamora, against “bullying” Gomez, his 75-year-old mother.

“They know her condition but they want to subject her to emotional and psychological stress, to weaken her,” Ejercito told reporters.

“But she will fight and follow due process,” he said.

Ejercito said his mother is on her final term and has been enjoying strong support from her constituents but the Zamoras are “obsessed” with gaining political control of the city to protect their many business interests, including mining.

He stressed that with only 18 months before the next elections, there was no clamor by residents to remove her.

San Juan has been reaping awards, including the Seal of Good Governance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government in 2016, Ejercito said.

He said it was impossible for fraud to happen in the last elections, which was automated.

“Everyone was watching and social media was always there so it’s next to impossible that there will be cheating,” Ejercito said.

He alleged that the Zamoras were able to obtain signatures for their petition by dangling medical assistance and other financial help to desperate residents.