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President Gloria Arroyo has already chosen the chairman and the two
new commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), and is
set to announce her appointments next month, a Palace official said.
Presidential Management Staff Chief Cerge
Remonde said the President decided on her choices based on the
recommendations submitted by a search committee she organized to
screen appointees who will fill the vacant positions in the poll
body.
However, Remonde declined to give the names of
the new Comelec chairman and commissioners, because the President
will make the announcement on her appointments to the poll body in
February.
“We want the President to announce it herself.
But we assure you that these new officials, particularly the new
chair, will be acceptable to the public because they [candidates]
went through a rigorous selection process,” Remonde said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Gordon appealed to
Malacañang to immediately disclose the names of the new Comelec
officials, especially the new chairman since the matter is of public
interest.
“The public has a right to know. Malacañang
should immediately announce their names so that the public could
gauge their capabilities and know if they are reputable enough to
manage the Comelec,” Gordon said in one radio interview.
Choices for the post
Acting Comelec Commissioner Resurrecion Borra
had earlier disclosed that Malacañang sent the Commission a list of
possible commissioners for its comments. Those on the list, Borra
said, were former Sen. Rene Saguisag, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus
Rodriguez, former Sen. Wigberto Tañada, former University of the
East law school dean Amado Valdez, Comelec law department Director
Alioden Dalaig, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting legal
counsel Howard Calleja and Severo Maluenda.
At present, the Comelec en banc has only one
vacancy which resulted from the resignation of former Chairman
Benjamin Abalos Sr. But on February 2, two vacancies will be created
with the compulsory retirement of Borra and Commissioner Florentino
Tuason.
-- Angelo S. Samonte
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