Press Release
June 12, 2008

GMA URGED TO FILL UP VACANCIES IN COMELEC

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to fill up the three vacant commissioner's posts in the Commission on Elections to enable the poll body to effectively discharge its functions specially in overseeing the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to be held two months from now.

Pimentel said the appointment of new elections commissioners has gained more urgency in view of the death last month of Commissioner Romeo Brawner and the decision of the Commission on Appointments to suspend the confirmation of the nomination of Commissioner Muslimin Macarambon due to an unresolved complaint against him.

The Comelec, he said, is virtually crippled with only three members in office - Chairman Jose Melo and Commissioner Rene Sarmiento and Nicodemo Ferrer. He said this has slowed down the Comelec's resolution of pending cases, particularly protests filed by candidates in connection with the May 2007 Congressional and Local Elections and October 2007 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

Pimentel said he saw no plausible reason for the President's continued footdragging on the filling up of the Comelec vacancies considering that the names of several nominees have been submitted by the Malacañang search committee and non-government organizations like the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and National Citizens Movement for Free Elections.

"I can understand the frustration of our people over the President's failure to heed their persistent appeal for the appointment of new Comelec commissioners, which amounts to negligence and an irresponsible act," the minority leader said.

He said the President's dilly-dallying has only given rise to suspicion that three vacant Comelec posts are being reserved for Garcillano-like appointees that the administration can use for the 2010 Presidential Election.

Pimentel reiterated his long-standing suggestion for the President to appoint at least one elections commissioner from a list of nominees by the opposition just like what the late President Ferdinand Marcos did shortly before the February 1986 Presidential Election.

He said this will erase public apprehensions that the massive fraud that tainted the 2004 Presidential Election may be repeated in 2010.

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