Press Release
October 17, 2007

KIKO: OPEN UP THE COMELEC
CHAIR SELECTION PROCESS

Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan today called for transparency in the selection of the new Comelec Chairman in order to bring credibility back to the beleaguered institution.

"Let us open up the process and allow the public individually or through their organizations to participate in the selection of the new COMELEC Chair by nominating possible appointees," Kiko said.

According to reports, Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento revealed that former DILG Secretary Joey Lina, election lawyer Romeo Macalintal and Dean Amado Valdez are among the candidates for the position vacated by Benjamin Abalos.

The President is expected to appoint a new Comelec Chairman and three Commissioners before February 8, 2008 when Commissioners Resureccion Borra and Florentino Tuazon are set to retire.

"Malacanang should undertake a democratic consultation process involving the Comelec bureaucracy as well as its accredited watchdogs," Kiko added.

"Let us not waste this opportunity to appoint a person of integrity, capability and independence as he or she will be the steward of a very institution. The COMELEC Chairman is a critical appointee in ensuring that our constitutional democracy is anchored on clean and honest elections remains viable ad working. It is not an exaggeration to state that this appointment has a direct bearing on the viability and credibility of the 2010 elections." said Kiko.

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