Recall | LGUs | LAW ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

RECALL UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Legal Basis

The concept of recall in the Philippines is governed by the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160), specifically under Title I, Chapter 5, Section 69 to Section 75. It is one of the mechanisms provided by law to ensure accountability of local government officials. Recall serves as a direct democratic remedy by which the electorate can remove an elected local official before the end of their term for loss of confidence.

Grounds for Recall

The singular ground for initiating recall under Philippine law is loss of confidence. Unlike other accountability mechanisms that may require proving specific misconduct, the recall process is based purely on the collective sentiment of the electorate. It is premised on the democratic right of the people to withdraw their trust from an elected official if they believe the official no longer represents their interests or has otherwise lost the confidence of the public.

Who Can Be Recalled

All elective officials of Local Government Units (LGUs) can be subject to recall. These include:

• Provincial Governors and Vice Governors
• City and Municipal Mayors and Vice Mayors
• Members of the Sanggunian (Provincial, City, or Municipal)

However, members of the Sangguniang Barangay (Barangay Council) and the Punong Barangay (Barangay Captain) are not subject to recall as provided by specific laws concerning barangay officials.

Who May Initiate Recall

The recall process may be initiated by either:

1. Registered Voters: A recall can be initiated directly by registered voters of the LGU through a petition signed by a specific percentage of the voters. The required percentage varies depending on the size of the population of the LGU:

   • For LGUs with up to 20,000 voters: At least 25% of the total registered voters are needed.
   • For LGUs with more than 20,000 but less than 75,000 voters: At least 20% of the total registered voters.
   • For LGUs with more than 75,000 but less than 300,000 voters: At least 15% of the total registered voters.
   • For LGUs with over 300,000 voters: At least 10% of the total registered voters.

2. The Preparatory Recall Assembly (PRA): This assembly consists of local government officials elected in the previous election. The assembly can initiate recall by a majority vote of all its members, only for officials holding positions in the province, city, or municipality concerned. This option is unavailable for barangay officials.

Timing of Recall

There are strict time limitations regarding when recall may be initiated:

• Within the first year of the term of office of an official, no recall can be initiated.
• After the second year of the official's term, no recall can be initiated.
• Therefore, the window to initiate a recall is during the second year of the official's term. For instance, if a local official's term began in 2022, recall proceedings can only occur between 2023 and 2024.

Furthermore, only one recall election can be held for an official during their term.

Procedure for Recall by Voters' Petition

1. Filing of Petition: The recall petition, signed by the required percentage of registered voters, must be submitted to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). The petition must specify the names of the petitioners, their signatures, addresses, and precinct numbers, as well as the specific reasons for loss of confidence.

2. Verification by COMELEC: Upon receipt of the petition, COMELEC must verify the signatures to ensure that the required number of voters has been met. This involves a physical verification process, often including the examination of voter records and the conduct of hearings.

3. Scheduling of Recall Election: Once verified, the COMELEC will schedule the recall election not earlier than 30 days but not later than 45 days from the time the petition is found sufficient, or 90 days in cases where the LGU is located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

4. Election Campaign: The official who is the subject of recall, along with other candidates who may file their candidacies, will be allowed to campaign for the position.

5. The Recall Election: The electorate of the concerned LGU will vote to either retain the incumbent official or elect a replacement. The incumbent automatically becomes a candidate in the recall election.

Effect of Recall Election

If the incumbent official wins the recall election, they will remain in office for the remainder of the term. However, if the official loses, the winner of the recall election will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term of the recalled official.

Prohibition on Resignation to Avoid Recall

An official cannot resign to avoid a recall election. Any resignation tendered after the filing of a recall petition will not prevent the continuation of the recall process. This is to ensure that an official cannot use resignation as a means of evading the democratic process.

Limitations on Recall Elections

1. Frequency: Only one recall election can be conducted within the term of an elected official.
2. Term Restrictions: A local official who has been recalled and subsequently won the recall election cannot be subjected to another recall for the remainder of their term.

Role of the COMELEC

The COMELEC plays a critical role in the recall process. It has the authority to:

• Determine the sufficiency of the recall petition.
• Conduct the verification of the signatures.
• Organize and oversee the recall election.
• Set rules and regulations regarding the recall process to ensure fairness and transparency.

Supreme Court Decisions on Recall

There have been significant rulings by the Supreme Court related to the recall process:

1. Angobung v. COMELEC (1995): The Court ruled that the petition for recall must comply strictly with the procedural and substantive requirements under the Local Government Code. This case emphasized the importance of the verification process.

2. Terse v. COMELEC (1997): The Court upheld the power of the Preparatory Recall Assembly to initiate a recall process, affirming that this body is a legitimate source of initiating recall in local government units.

3. Monsale v. COMELEC (2010): The Court reiterated that the recall mechanism is a valid and democratic method of ensuring public officials' accountability, as long as it is exercised within the parameters provided by the law.

Conclusion

Recall is an essential component of the political law system in the Philippines as it ensures accountability and gives the people a direct mechanism to express their loss of confidence in their local leaders. While limited in application—given the time restrictions, procedural requirements, and the single-use limit—recall serves as a reminder that sovereignty resides in the people and that elected officials are accountable to them throughout their term.

Recall | Remedies and Jurisdiction | ELECTION LAW

RECALL UNDER ELECTION LAW (POLITICAL LAW AND PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW)

I. Introduction to Recall

Recall is a democratic process under Philippine election law that allows the electorate to remove a local elected official from office before the end of their term. It is an exceptional remedy vested in the people to express dissatisfaction with the performance or conduct of an incumbent official, specifically at the local level. Recall should not be confused with impeachment, which is applicable to higher-ranking officials and follows a different set of legal principles.

The authority and procedures for recall in the Philippines are governed by the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160) and are supplemented by relevant jurisprudence and Comelec (Commission on Elections) rules and resolutions.

II. Constitutional and Statutory Basis

• 1987 Constitution: The constitutional foundation for recall is found in Section 3 of Article X, which provides that "The Congress shall enact a local government code which shall provide for a more responsive and accountable local government structure instituted through a system of decentralization." The same provision mandates that a local government code should include mechanisms for "recall, initiative, and referendum."

• Local Government Code of 1991 (R.A. No. 7160): Recall is specifically governed by Sections 69-75 of the Local Government Code. These sections establish the grounds, procedures, and limitations regarding the recall of local officials.

III. Grounds for Recall

Recall is not dependent on any specific administrative or criminal violation. The grounds are dissatisfaction of the people with the performance of the local official. The reasons can be political, administrative, or even moral in nature. The key point is that the electorate must express a lack of confidence in their elected official, typically based on the official’s actions during their tenure.

IV. Who May Be Recalled

Under Section 69 of the Local Government Code, recall may only be initiated against the following officials after they have served at least one (1) year of their term:

1. Provincial Governor
2. Vice Governor
3. Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board)
4. City or Municipal Mayor
5. Vice Mayor
6. Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) or Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council)

Note: Barangay officials are not subject to recall under the provisions of the Local Government Code.

V. Who May Initiate Recall

There are two ways by which recall may be initiated:

1. By a Preparatory Recall Assembly (PRA):

   • A Preparatory Recall Assembly is composed of all elected local officials in the concerned local government unit (LGU). For provincial officials, it would include mayors, vice mayors, and sangguniang bayan members. For city and municipal officials, it includes all barangay captains and sangguniang barangay members.
   • The PRA may initiate the recall by a majority vote of its members.

2. By Petition of the Registered Voters:

   • Section 70 allows recall to be initiated by a petition signed by a specified percentage of the registered voters in the concerned LGU. The required percentage varies depending on the number of registered voters:
     • For LGUs with up to 20,000 voters, at least 25% of the registered voters must sign the petition.
     • For LGUs with 20,000 to 75,000 voters, at least 20% of the registered voters.
     • For LGUs with more than 75,000 voters, at least 15% of the registered voters.

VI. Timing and Limitations on Recall

1. Time Period for Recall:

   • Recall may be initiated only after the official has served at least one (1) year in office from the date of their assumption.
   • A recall election must not be conducted within one year before a regular local election. This means that the recall process cannot be used as a political weapon in the immediate lead-up to the regular elections.
   • No elected official can be subjected to more than one recall election within the same term of office.

2. Limitation on the Conduct of the Recall Election:

   • Recall elections must be scheduled and conducted by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which oversees the entire process, from the verification of signatures to the conduct of the actual recall election.
   • The Comelec is mandated to verify the sufficiency of the petition for recall within 15 days from its submission and, if found sufficient, schedule a recall election within 30 days for cities and municipalities and 45 days for provinces.

VII. Procedure for Recall

1. Filing of the Recall Petition:

   • A verified petition for recall must be filed with the local office of the Comelec. In cases where the petition is initiated by voters, it must be accompanied by signatures and thumbmarks of the required percentage of the electorate.

2. Comelec Verification and Signature Validation:

   • Once the petition is filed, the Comelec is tasked with verifying the sufficiency and authenticity of the signatures within 15 days. The Comelec may conduct a random check to ensure that the signatures are genuine.

3. Scheduling and Conduct of Recall Election:

   • Upon finding the petition sufficient, the Comelec schedules the recall election within 30 days (for cities and municipalities) or 45 days (for provinces). The election follows the usual rules of local elections.

4. Candidates in the Recall Election:

   • The incumbent official is automatically considered a candidate in the recall election. Other candidates may file their certificates of candidacy within a period set by the Comelec.

VIII. Effects of Recall

1. If the Incumbent Wins:

   • If the incumbent official wins the recall election, they will continue to serve the remainder of their term. There is no further recall allowed for that term.

2. If the Incumbent Loses:

   • If the incumbent loses, the winner of the recall election will serve the remainder of the term. However, the official removed via recall is not disqualified from running in the next regular election for the same position.

IX. Remedies and Jurisdiction

1. COMELEC’s Role:

   • The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has exclusive jurisdiction over the conduct of recall elections. It is responsible for verifying the recall petition, setting the election date, and ensuring the proper conduct of the recall election.
   • Any disputes or questions relating to the recall process (e.g., the sufficiency of the petition, the validity of the election) are generally within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Comelec.

2. Judicial Review:

   • Decisions of the Comelec regarding the recall process may be subject to judicial review by the Supreme Court only on grounds of grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction under Section 7, Article IX-A of the 1987 Constitution.
   • However, courts generally defer to the Comelec’s findings in the absence of manifest errors or abuses.

X. Notable Jurisprudence on Recall

1. Aguinaldo v. Comelec (1992): This case confirmed that the grounds for recall need not be limited to criminal or administrative offenses, but may also arise out of political dissatisfaction. The ruling affirmed the broad discretion given to the electorate in initiating recall proceedings.

2. Angobung v. Comelec (1996): This case clarified that the signature verification process for recall petitions must be thorough and that the Comelec is empowered to verify the sufficiency of signatures in recall petitions.

XI. Conclusion

Recall is a mechanism that allows voters to hold their local officials accountable during their term of office. The process is governed primarily by the Local Government Code and Comelec rules. While it is a powerful tool of direct democracy, it is bounded by strict procedural rules, such as the timing and signature requirements, to prevent abuse. Ultimately, the recall election is a manifestation of the people's sovereignty, allowing them to express their will regarding the leadership of their local government.