Comelec approves recall petition vs. San Juan mayor Guia Gomez

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the recall petition filed by losing mayoralty candidate and former San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora against Mayor Guia Gomez. (Photo: Guia G. Gomez/Facebook)

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has approved the recall petition filed by losing mayoralty candidate and former San Juan Vice Mayor Francis Zamora against Mayor Guia Gomez.

“The Commission en banc has ruled on the sufficiency of the recall petition against San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez,” Comelec spoksperson James Jimenez said in a statement Wednesday.

With this, the poll body official added that the parties were given three days to file motions for reconsideration (MRs).

“However, a three-day period for the filing of Motions for Reconsideration has been given to the parties. Further announcements will be made, after the resolution of any such Motion, or the expiration of the said period, whichever comes later,” he 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,” Jimenez added.

Jimenez, however, said he could not confirm the reason of the Commission en banc in approving the recall petition.

“To be clear, a finding on the sufficiency has been made; I cannot confirm or deny what the finding was, so as not to preempt the parties filing their respective motions for reconsideration if they so wish,” the poll body official said.
He added, “A recall petition may be granted if the requisites laid down by law are met.”

Jimenez said that “anyone can run for the position being recalled” while the incumbent official is an automatic candidate.

Last May 17, Zamora’s supporters filed a petition calling for a recall election in the city after submitting some 30,000 signatures of San Juan residents.

The petition stemmed from Gomez’s alleged graft and corruption, incompetence, abuse of power and dereliction of duty.