Press Release
January 16, 2008

KIKO CHALLENGES MALACAÑANG TO MAKE PUBLIC COMELEC CHAIR SHORTLIST; WARNS THAT LACK OF TRANSPARENCY CAN LEAD TO WHEELING AND DEALING, HORSE TRADING IN THE SELECTION.
"The people deserve to know the truth. The people deserve to know whether or not they are being taken for a ride in the selection of the next Comelec chair." -Kiko

Senate Majority and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today assailed Malacañang for its lack of transparency in the selection of the next Chairman and two other commissioners of the Commission on Elections. "The absence of transparency will do more harm than good both for Malacañang and the Comelec. It will only lead to speculation and doubts as to the basis of the appointment. In the absence of information regarding the nominees, people will say that connections and influence rather than merit is the basis for the appointment." Kiko said.

Yesterday, the Search Committee submitted to President Arroyo the names in the shortlist but refused to disclose in public saying it is up to the President as the appointing authority to make that decision. "Why keep the public in the dark as to the nominees? What are they afraid of? This is unacceptable, are they hiding the names because they cannot explain or justify how these names landed in the list? Are the names on the list controversial that it must remain secret and confidential? Are they unable to defend the shortlist and so it must not be divulged? If so, all the more it must be made public. The people deserve to know the truth. The people deserve to know whether or not they are being taken for a ride in the selection of the next Comelec chair." Kiko said.

Since October of 2007, Senator Pangilinan is recommending that all nominees should be subjected to public interviews to be undertaken by the Search Committee, "The fear of politicizing the process is without basis, the Comelec statement that the process could be politicized if the list is made public is downright ridiculous. On the contrary, the opportunity for horse trading, politicking, wheeling and dealing and boot licking is greater in a process that is secretive and lacking in transparency. The JBC has been conducting public interviews for nominees to the Judiciary since 2002 and in no instance has the process become politicized." The lack of transparency undermines the credibility of the selection process. Kiko ended.

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