A group of professionals is allegedly considering the launching of a recall petition against Congressman Eulogio Rodriguez, with the election to be held by July 2023 when he completes his first year in public office.
This was disclosed by Atty. Oliver Rodulfo, who refused to identify the group behind the idea to oust the Catanduanes solon for loss of confidence.
The former DPWH Bicol legal officer has blamed the neophyte House representative for causing the transfer of the funding and implementation of P2.1 billion in vital infrastructure projects from the Catanduanes District Engineering Office to the DPWH regional office.
He likewise accused the solon’s chief handler of being behind the ouster of the former district engineer and his replacement by DE Edy Ferdinand Joven, who was himself removed from his post as DE of Camarines Sur 1st District.
Joven was recently in the headlines due to his snubbing of the Sanggunian Panlalawigan’s invitation for him to answer questions on the P2.1 billion issue, particularly its damaging effects on the island’s economy, revenue collection from the construction projects and livelihood opportunities for the local construction industry.
In declining the invitation, the DE told the SP to request the pertinent information through the agency’s Freedom of Information (FOI) procedure and then went on 15-day leave allegedly for medical reasons.
A reliable source told the Tribune that the other Monday, Feb. 20, Joven’s driver returned his official vehicle to the DPWH district office in San Isidro Village, Virac and relayed the DE’s message to pack up his things.
Atty. Rodulfo said that based on COMELEC Resolution No. 10649 issued on Jan. 31, 2020, a petition for recall may be filed at any time after the assumption of office of the official sought to be recalled, with the recall election to be conducted not earlier than one year from the date of assumption and not later than one year immediately preceding the next regular local election.
Any registered voter may file a petition for recall, supported by the signature of at least 15 percent of the voting population of Catanduanes but not less than 5,000, according to the revised guidelines.
In the 2022 national and local elections, there were a total of 101,627 registered voters, of which 88,523 (88.09 percent) cast their votes.
In the congressional race, Cong. Rodriguez got 75,432 votes (47.10%) while former Rep. Hector Sanchez received only 48,684 (30.40%).
The other candidates, former Cong. Cesar Sarmiento and Atty. Oliver Rodulfo, got 33,281 (20.78%) and 2,754 (1.72%), respectively.
How come that the total number of votes for Congressman which is around 160k+ is much much more that the number of votes cast 88k+ in 2022 election.