Opposition wants own bets appointed to Comelec

The political opposition is calling for the appointment of opposition nominees to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said the appointments of nominees for the three vacant posts on the seven-member Comelec would calm public fears that the poll body has lost its independence and had become subservient to Malacañang under the leadership of Chairman Benjamin Abalos.

"The people have become wary of the holding of future elections if the Comelec will be led by the same officials whom they believe failed to act impartially and competently in supervising the 2004 presidential election which was widely perceived to be tainted with irregularities," Pimentel said.

He added that "if you put opposition nominees in the Comelec, that will have a powerful effect on the people in terms of restoring their confidence in the poll body. At least they are assured that the opposition’s voice will be heard."

According to Pimentel, there is a loud public clamor for the resignation or impeachment of top Comelec officials because of their alleged involvement in the anomalous P1.3-billion poll computerization contract that was voided by the Supreme Court.

Pimentel suggested that elections be computerized next year, as the Senate is winding up deliberations on the proposal of the Committee on Amendments, Codes and Laws under Sen. Richard Gordon.

The three vacancies in the Comelec were created with the compulsory retirement of commissioners Rufino Javier and Mehol Sadain and the non-reappointment of commissioner Manuel Barcelona.

Pimentel recalled that back in 1984 former Camarines Sur congressman Ramon Felipe was appointed Comelec commissioner by then President Ferdinand Marcos prior to the election of members of the Batasang Pambansa in response to the opposition’s criticism that the poll body was beholden to him.

"During the Marcos years, the people were arguing against the holding of elections because they were concerned that President Marcos controlled the Comelec and the whole bureaucracy and, therefore, the election would be rigged," Pimentel said.

Pimentel added "in the face of the criticism, President Marcos allocated one seat in the Comelec to the opposition nominee, Ramon Felipe, to assuage the unease of the population over allowing the elections to be held under a Comelec with no voice from the opposition."

Under normal circumstances, Pimentel said, such an approach should not be pursued since the Comelec is supposed to be a neutral body and not beholden to the President or to any political party.