Comelec exec wants civil society represented in search panel

An official of the Commission on Elections sought yesterday the inclusion of representatives from civil society groups in the search panel for the next Comelec chairman that was recently created by Malacañang.

Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said it is better for civil society to be represented to ensure public acceptance. He also favors a mixture of government and nongovernment sectors in the panel.

Sarmiento said these representatives could come from any of the following organizations, such as the Coalition for Election Reform, Transparency and Accountability Network, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, One Voice, Legal Network for Truthful Election, Integrated Bar of the Philippines or the Philippine Bar Association, among other groups.

Sarmiento said that a female chairman could also be considered in the spirit of gender equality. At present, the top six posts at the Comelec are occupied by males.

This developed as newly appointed Commissioner Moslemen Macarambon was assigned to handle the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which will have its election for governor, vice governor and other positions next year.

The Comelec reshuffled the regional assignments for commissioners following the resignation of former chairman Benjamin Abalos last month.