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Bayan Muna disowns recall signature drive

BAGUIO CITY (Aug. 23) — The spokesperson of the party list Bayan Muna (BM) today disowned the group that gathered signatures for the recall of Baguio City Mayor Braulio D. Yaranon, during the multi-sectoral mobilization that called for the immediate ouster of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the People’s Park here on Aug. 23, here.

Joe Cawiding, BM coordinator for Baguio-Benguet said he did not even notice the group who, he said, could have taken advantage of the large anti-GMA mobilization to further their desperate intention to unseat Yaranon.

“Wala pa kaming nakikitang matibay na dahilan para sa recall elections,” (We still do not see any strong reason for the recall elections) Cawiding told this NORDIS reporter. He added that if the recall advocates are up against corruption, BM is yet to see evidence of corruption perpetrated by Yaranon.

Cawiding said the lack of social services like inadequate supply of potable water and inefficient collection of solid wastes which are issues being raised by the recall proponents “have long been in our midst”. He added that even during the time of both Mauricio Domogan and Bernardo Vergara, who alternately served as mayors and congressional representatives, these problems were not adequately solved nor addressed.

“Mababaw na dahilan ang mga iyan,” (Those are shallow reasons) Cawiding asserted.

Cawiding said that the recall elections would be a waste of the taxpayer’s money, notwithstanding an unconfirmed report that the group pushing for the recall is willing to finance the electoral process. Those who are behind Yaranon’s recall, Cawiding said, may be interested at financing the exercise.

Another interviewee told NORDIS that one more option is for the city to advance the funds for such an endeavor, “but why should it do that? The Commission on Elections COMELEC does not have money now. How can it reimburse the city later?” our unnamed source asks.

COMELEC reportedly estimated that it would need some P6 million to process a recall elections.

Cawiding mentioned that BM is currently looking into the reasons for the recall and revealed that its chapters in the city are yet to be consulted for them to have an informed option on the issue.

The group of residents seen at the People’s Park gathering signatures for Yaranon’s recall reportedly frown at uncollected garbage, lack of water, and a battery of other issues which, they said, discourages the influx of tourists into the city. They have allegedly gathered some 11,000 signatures. # Lyn V. Ramo for NORDIS

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