Says the local chief executive was on leave from December 4
(Eagle News) — The San Juan government spokesperson has denied Mayor Guia Gomez was deliberately avoiding the Commission on Elections officer who was about to serve the notice for a recall election in the city.
In a statement, Grace Cortes said Gomez had been on leave since December 4.
She said the Department of the Interior and Local Government knew about the leave.
“Contrary to the accusations and malicious statement issued by Mr. Francis Zamora, Gomez is not deliberately avoiding the receipt of the notice of sufficiency from the (COMELEC). It was unfortunate that the COMELEC personnel who delivered the notice (for a recall election) was not able to see her personally,” she said.
Cortes was referring to former Vice Mayor Francis Zamora, who ran for mayor in the 2016 elections but lost to Gomez.
Cortes said the mayor would appeal the COMELEC’s granting of a petition to hold a recall election in the city.
The petition was filed on September 22 by Zamora’s supporters.