PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—The grounds of this city’s coliseum became a sea of red as tens of hundreds of Yes to Recall (Y2R) Movement sympathizers flocked as early as 6 a.m. on Tuesday to back their recall election candidate former Mayor Edward Hagedorn, who filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) at the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office.
The vicinity of the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum was in celebratory mood as Hagedorn’s long-term supporters clapped, yelled, and raised over their heads their close-fisted hands the moment they saw their so-called Tunay na Lider alighting from his vehicle at around 9 a.m.
“Sa wakas, tapos na rin ang agam-agam. Maraming nagsasabi hindi matutuloy ang recall, pero tapos na ang ating paghihintay,” Hagedorn said.
After filing his candidacy, Hagedorn went outside the Comelec office and walked to the coliseum grounds, where he hoisted his COC for his supporters to see.
In a media interview, recall petitioner and former city information chief Al Goh said the filing of Hagedorn’s COC is “just a step closer in bringing back the hype, peace and security that was lost upon incumbent Mayor Lucilo Bayron’s assumption into office.”
Under Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, registered voters of a local government may remove a local elective official from office through a recall election.
Prior to the filing of his COC, Hagedorn, who was interviewed on Monday afternoon by the Philippine News Agency criticized that Bayron’s “apuradong administration” “is like a cancer” that should be prevented from spreading.” Campaign period will be from April 25 to May 6, as indicated on the recall election’s calendar of activities of the Comelec.
PNA