NGOs submit list of nominees to fill Comelec vacancies

MANILA, Philippines - Multi-sectoral groups submitted a list of nominees to President Aquino for the forthcoming vacancies at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In a 61-page letter, the groups said the vacancies at the Comelec this year “represent a timely opportunity to rebuild” the Comelec.

“The organizations that we represent would like to suggest that, given the wide public interest in the future of the Comelec and automation, an open and transparent selection and appointment process be conducted with full disclosure of the criteria, nominator(s) and credentials of the nominees,” the groups told Aquino in a letter dated Jan. 5.

The letter was signed by former Comelec chairman Christian Monsod of the Bishop Businessman’s Conference; Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace; David Balangue of Coalition Against Corruption; Gregorio Navarro of Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines.

The other groups were led by Roan Libarios of Integrated Bar of the Philippines; Rose Reyes and Ona Carlos of Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente); Ramon del Rosario Jr. of Makati Business Club; Felino Palafox Jr. of Management Association of the Philippines; Jose Cuisia Jr. of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel); Benjamin Tolosa of Pugad Lawin of Ateneo de Manila; Mahar Mangahas of Social Weather Stations; Antonio La Viña of Ateneo School of Government and Vincent Lazatin of Transparency and Accountability Network.

The groups maintained “beyond these basic requirements, we believe that for the position of chair, the nominee must not only be a highly respected member of the legal profession but must also be a younger and more dynamic individual who has been actively involved in electoral reform, has a long-term developmental vision and can face the rigorous challenges of managing a modernization process down to the field level.”

On Jan. 31, Comelec Chairman Jose Melo will retire while Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer and Gregorio Larrazabal are set to retire on Feb. 2.

For Melo’s replacement, the groups nominated lawyers Carlos Medina Jr. of Lente and Antonio Pastelero, the lawyer who won the case before the Supreme Court case involving the automated counting machines purchased by the Comelec from MegaPacific in 2003. – With Rhodina Villanueva