Durano brothers swap charges
July 5, 2011
CEBU CITY — Danao City Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. and Acting City Administrator Jesus “Don” Durano filed complaints for usurpation of official functions against their brother Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano and three of his children.
This developed as the vice mayor filed at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) a petition to recall the mayor, supported by 31,000 signatures gathered in the past three months.
“I will run for mayor,” Nito said.
Some members of the political clan, who dominate politics in the fifth district of Cebu Province, have faced off against relatives before. But this is the first time a recall has ever been attempted in Danao City.
The mayor’s camp didn’t take it sitting down.
Through lawyer Gloria Lastimosa Dalawampu, the mayor and city administrator accused the vice mayor and three of his children of conspiring to usurp the mayor’s functions concerning disbursement vouchers and government checks. The offense is punishable under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code.
Allies
Named as respondents, aside from vice mayor, were Thomas Mark R. Durano, Board Member Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca and Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Ramonette Cynthia Durano-Mahinay.
Neither is the vice mayor alone in seeking a recall election.
His co-petitioners are City Councilors Jorge John Cane, Cynthia Arnado Duterte, Miguel Antonio Magpale, Alejandro Lawas, Marilou Camaongay Flores, Jose Thaddeus Roble, Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca, Roland Reyes, Jovelina Manulat-Enriquez and Ramonette Cynthia Durano-Mahinay.
In their petition, they cited loss of confidence.
They said the mayor refused to recognize the power of the City Council; showed gross incompetence or failure of governance; failed to maintain peace and order in the city; failed to stop rampant illegal gambling, which people closely identified with him allegedly operate; and allowing outsiders to meddle in the affairs at City Hall.
Support
The ABC also passed Resolution 03-2011, expressing loss of confidence in Mayor Boy’s administration and supporting calls for his recall.
Thirty-four of 42 barangay captains in the northern city signed the ABC resolution.
Certified correct by ABC secretary Josefina Quiros, the resolution stated that if Mayor Durano will be allowed to stay in office until the end of his term in 2013, the people of Danao City would be deprived of a competent leader.
The recall petition, which arrived with 31,000 signatures of voters, was received by City Election Officer Dominic Ian Marigomen, in the presence of Provincial Election Supervisor Lionel Castillano. Lawyer Guiller Ceniza, counsel of the petitioners, and Representative Ramon “Red” Durano VI (Cebu Province, 5th district) were also present.
Voters
Vice Mayor Nito said that because Danao City has 78,000 voters, they only needed 15,000 signatures to initiate a recall election. However, more people want to participate.
The vice mayor recalled he got 31,000 votes when he ran for mayor in 2007 and won by a majority of 7,000 votes against his brother, Don (now the city administrator). In the May 10, 2010 election, Nito got 42,000 votes for vice mayor.
Now, he hopes to get the same number if the recall election pushes through.
When asked to comment, Castillano said the election officer will determine whether the signatures in the recall petition are those of bona fide voters of Danao City. The election officer will then submit a report to the Comelec in Manila, for evaluation.
Once the Comelec in Manila refers back the recall petition to Danao City, the election officer shall verify that the signatures are genuine. If everything is in order, the Comelec will conduct a recall election only for the position of mayor, Castillano said.
He added they have no budget for a recall election in Danao City, but the Comelec has savings because of the postponement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections.
Budget
Castillano also said that Comelec spent P5 million for the special congressional election in the fifth district, when then representative Joseph “Ace” Durano resigned to serve as tourism secretary in the Arroyo administration in 2004. His brother Ace won that election.
This time, Castillano said, the budget needed will be much less, considering that only Danao City will be covered.
Meanwhile, in the usurpation case against Vice Mayor Durano and his offspring, the mayor said in his affidavit that on July 5, 2010, he issued Memorandum 10-363.
This granted the vice mayor authority to sign official documents for the operation of the City Government in his absence.
He said, however, that without his knowledge and authority, and even if he was present and exercising his duties and responsibilities as Danao City mayor, the vice mayor approved 111 disbursement vouchers and 91 checks chargeable against City Hall’s general fund.
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/node/165026
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