May recall petitition, payagang magbitiw

Isinulong kahapon ni Senador Leila de Lima ang pagpasa sa panukalang magpapahintulot sa isang halal na opisyal, na pinepetisyon para sa recall, na boluntaryong magbitiw habang isinasagawa ang removal process.

Naghain si De Lima, chair ng Senate Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation Committee, ng Senate Bill (SB) No. 1676 na inaamyendahan ang Section 73 ng Republic Act No. 7160, o mas kilala bilang 1991 Local Government Code (LGC).

Sa kasalukuyang batas, ipinagbabawal ang boluntaryong pagbibitiw ng isang halal na opisyal habang isinasagawa ang recall proceedings.

“Given the fact that the government would have to shoulder the expenses of the recall elections and in light of the fiscal crisis that our country is experiencing, it would be more practical to allow the official… to voluntarily resign in order to avoid incurring additional expenses necessarily connected with the recall process,” aniya.

Sinabi ni De Lima na ang bill ay orihinal na ipinanukala ni Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago sa 13th, 15th, at 16th Congress.

“Being convinced of its rationale and practical wisdom, I opted to adopt as I now hereby adopt, this proposed measure,” aniya.