Half of candidates back out of recall polls in Puerto Princesa

From the “unusual” 45 candidates first reported by Rappler, only 22 are now left vying for the position of Puerto Princesa City mayor. The unusual number of people who filed candidacies has pushed the name of former mayor Edward Hagedorn, the strongest challenger of incumbent Lucilo Bayron, down the candidates’ list, while making the incumbent name No. 1 on the list. As of Wednesday, however, half of the people who filed their candidacies had backed out from the recall elections set for Friday, May 8, according to local the local Commission on Elections. Some of those who filed said they were duped and paid registering, but they didn’t know they were running for mayor.

Read the full story on Rappler.