By Arlie Calalo

THE Commission on Elections has lifted its suspension order on recall petitions, effectively sending petitioners in a race against each other for the poll body?s verification, a crucial step in the recall process.

Chairman Jose Melo said the Comelec made the decision in Resolution 8547 after Congress approved Comelec?s P5.4-billion budget of which P50 million has been allocated for the recall elections.

?Comelec cannot presume to say that one recall petition is more meritorious than another,? Melo said.

Comelec asked for a P93-billion budget for the six recall petitions separately filed against Pampanga Gov. Eddie Panlilio; Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan; Cabuyao, Laguna Mayor Isidro Hemedes Jr.; Mauban, Quezon Mayor Rexito Bantayan; Matag-ob, Leyte Mayor Gervasio Basbas; and Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija Vice Mayor Rossman Carry Uera.

As a result, the ?race? will not be limited to the six recall complaints earlier approved by the Comelec. Petitioners from 22 other LGUs will practically compete with one another in completing the procedures which include the verification of signatures that will be made in their respective local election offices.

?So it will be like first-come, first-served basis,? Melo and Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said in separate interview.

?But with the approval of the budget [P50 million], it is now imperative to lift the suspension order,? Melo said.

In November last year, Resolution 8547 effectively placed all recall petitions on the back burner.

After the approval of the recall petitions, the next step would be for local election officials to verify the signatures on the petitions, and they have up to March 25 to finish the process, Melo said.

?The verification of signatures will be done at the same time, so there won?t be any impression that we are favoring one petition from another,? Melo said.

He added: ?Whoever finishes first will be the first to have special elections.?

?Then there will be 45 days for the campaign period,? Melo said, adding that the latest date for an election was May 9 because the law prohibits the holding of recall elections within one year of a regular election, which will be on May 10, 2010.

Melo said election officials would thus have only up to March 25 to finish the verification process and organize the recall elections.

?We will have to see which province will be the first to complete the procedure,? he said.