PANDI, Bulacan – Residents in this farming town are calling for a recall election in an alleged move to replace the incumbent mayor here.
This developed after some 2,000 residents trooped to the Office of Municipal Election Officer of the Commission On Election (Comelec) to support a recall petition against incumbent Mayor Celestino Marquez on Thursday morning.
The 11 pages petition for recall was filed by Elizalde Malindog, a resident of Santisima Trinidad, Barangay Bagong Barrio, Pandi town and was received by Emelyn Mendoza, election officer of Pandi.
Lawyer Ricky Juab, legal representative of the petitioner said the grounds of the petition filed against Marquez was due to “Loss of Trust and Confidence.”
Juab said they have attached the collected 19,000 signatures from registered voters who agreed to conduct a recall.
Malindog cited in his petition the alleged rampant operation of illegal gambling and quarrying including the lack of proper action to curb the said illegal activities.
The complainant also cited the alleged lack of free medicines, support and utter disregard of indigent patients, livelihood programs, scholars and alleged refusal ti assist individual groups who are not members of his political party.
Supporters of the recall petition carried placards emblazoned with messages of grievances and loss of trust and confidence against the incumbent town executive.
An aide of the mayor, said the action is obviously politically motivated.
Chief Insp. Manuel De Vera, Pandi police chief said that an augmentation team from the Bulacan PNP- Provincial Public Safety Company and the 48th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army arrived to maintain peace and order. –EMIL G. GAMOS