GMA honors Comelec for giving RP its first automated polls

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo honored yesterday Chairman Jose Melo and the five commissioners of the Commission on Elections for successfully holding the country’s first automated elections last May 10.

On her last full day in office, Mrs. Arroyo awarded Melo the Order of Lakandula, and Commissioners Elias Yusoph, Nicodemo Ferrer, Armando Velasco, Rene Sarmiento and Gregorio Larrazabal the Presidential Medal of Merit.

The Order of Lakandula is a political and civic merit awarded in memory of Lakandula’s dedication to the responsibilities of leadership, prudence, fortitude, courage and resolve in the service of one’s people.

Mrs. Arroyo also conferred on her Cabinet secretaries two of the highest honors that can be given under the law.

A total of 34 awards were handed out by Mrs. Arroyo to her Cabinet members after their last meeting at Malacañang yesterday.

Thirty two Cabinet secretaries were awarded the Order of Lakandula with rank of Bayani in recognition of their dedication to the welfare of society.

The following Cabinet members received the Order of Lakandula: Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla, Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo, Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito Roque, Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Trade Secretary Jesli Lapus, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Celia Yangco, Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Horacio Ramos, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano, Transportation and Communications Secretary Anneli Lontoc, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, Budget and Management Secretary Joaquin Lagonera, Energy Secretary Jose Ibazeta, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Augusto Santos, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Raoul Victorino, Press Secretary Crispulo Icban, National Security Council director general Milo Ibrado Jr., Presidential Management Staff head Elena Bautista-Horn, presidential adviser for special concerns Remedios Poblador, Commission on Information and Communications Technology Chairman Ray Anthony Roxas Chua, presidential adviser on political affairs Prospero Pichay, presidential adviser on the peace process Annabelle Abaya, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Oscar Inocentes, National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor Domingo Panganiban, presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers Dante Ang, Cabinet Secretary Ma. Corazon Imperial, presidential adviser on Mindanao affairs Jesus Dureza, presidential spokesperson Ricardo Saludo and former Philippine Information Agency head Conrado Limcaoco, who was not present yesterday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo was supposed to receive the Order of Lakandula but he was at a press conference with president-elect Benigno Aquino III in Quezon City. Aquino had retained Romulo as foreign affairs secretary.

Mrs. Arroyo also awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor with rank of chief commander on Vice President Noli De Castro and the rank of grand commander on Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales.

After the awarding, the entire Cabinet had their official photograph taken with Mrs. Arroyo at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang.

It was followed by a dinner at the Bahay Pangarap inside Malacañang Park, across the Pasig River.

Locsin: Electoral fraud to persist

Outgoing Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. believes electoral fraud will persist as long as corrupt personnel remain at the Comelec.

However, the chairman of the committee on suffrage and electoral reforms at the House of Representatives only has good words for Melo, a retired Supreme Court justice.

“Unfortunately, the same people are still running Comelec despite periodic changes of commissioners over the years, and the leadership of well-meaning chairmen such as the incumbent,” read Locsin’s 27-page committee report.

Locsin agreed with Comelec executive director Jose Tolentino’s observation that while they may have the best intentions, machines are still operated by people and vulnerable to machinations. – Marvin Sy, Delon Porcalla, Sheila Crisostomo