Lack of transparency in Comelec selection process hit
By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 15:22:00 01/15/2008
MANILA, Philippines -- The continued lack of transparency in selecting the next chairman and commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is unconstitutional, a Senate leader said Tuesday.
On Monday, the Malacañanag-formed search committee submitted its five nominees to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but refused name them.
“[This] lack of transparency is unconstitutional...The people have the right to know who the nominees are,” said Majority Floor Leader Francis Pangilinan.
The seven soon to be vacant seats in the poll body are currently being occupied by Resurreccion Borra as acting Comelec chairperson, Commissioners Florentino Tuason, Romeo Brawner, Nicodemo Ferrer, and Rene Sarmiento, and the still-to-be-confirmed Moslemen Macarambon.
Borra and Tuason are set to retire on February 2.
“We are frustrated by the manner this selection process is being conducted. Meron ba silang itinatago o ikinahihiya at ayaw nilang ihayag ang mga pangalan? Ano ba meron sa nasabing listahan na para bagang di dapat makita o masilayan ng publiko? [Are they hiding something or are they ashamed of the names? What's in the list that they don't want the public to see?]” he asked.
“As early as last year, we urged the search committee to conduct public interviews for the candidates and allow public access to their vision and programs for Comelec reform. This refusal to divulge the shortlist not only casts doubt on the credibility of the selection process, it also undermines public trust on the Comelec as an institution,” he added.
From among the candidates on this list, Arroyo is expected to appoint the replacement for former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos, who resigned amid allegations of bribery in the cancelled national broadband network deal with China's ZTE Corp.
“The Constitution states that public access to information is the right of the people. The refusal by the search committee to release to the public the shortlist is a direct violation of this constitutionally guaranteed right. Releasing the short list before any appointment is made is a matter of the highest public interest. The continued lack of transparency is contrary to the Constitution and is a disservice to the nation,”
Pangilinan said.
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