Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Arroyo told to fill up 2 Comelec commissioner posts soon
A CHURCH-based election watchdog appealed to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to immediately appoint two new commissioners in the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
In a press briefing, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) chairperson Henrietta de Villa noted the urgency to appoint new officials to the election body, as the two positions have been vacant since February 2.
Former commissioners Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason vacated the posts when they retired three months ago after serving seven years to the commission.
De Villa said there is a need to fill up the remaining posts and that their names should not remain a secret as she urged the President to reveal their identities.
She noted that if the names of the possible appointees to the Comelec will be released to the public, the people could scrutinize them.
She added that the appointment to the positions is very crucial to the August 11 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) elections.
"A lot of work needs to be done in the coming Armm elections and if the two vacancies will be filled up, the Comelec can fully assure the public of a successful conduct of elections in the Armm," she said.
The delay in the appointment of officials in the election body is not unusual, as the appointment of Comelec Chairman Jose Melo was likewise delayed for several months.
Melo was appointed to the election chief post only in February. He succeeded Benjamin Abalos Sr., who resigned on October 1, after he was implicated in the anomalous national broadband network (NBN) deal.
A search panel was earlier created by Malacañang to deliberate on possible appointees to the Comelec posts. (FP/Sunnex)
