Pacquiao says magistrates, poll commissioners should be elected, not appointed

FILE PHOTO: Presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said he wants magistrates and commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to be elected and not appointed by the president.

Pacquiao said that if elected president, he would push to change the system in appointing key officials, saying some should be elected so as to avoid bias toward those who appointed them.

“Pagdating ng panahon, babaguhin natin ‘yung sistema, lalo na ‘yung pag-appoint ng mga position kasi at the end of the day, ang papaburan niyan, ‘pag involved ‘yung nasa position, — hindi namna natin sinasabi na lahat — pero magkaroon talaga ng bias kasi in-appoint ka eh,” he said in an press briefing in Tarlac City.

(When the time comes, we will change the system, especially in appointing officials because at the end of the day, he or she will favor those who appointed him or her. We are not generalizing but there surely will be bias because you were appointed.)

“’Yung mga position na ‘yan, dapat i-elect para mas maganda, para wala siyang compromise. Nandiyan siya sa position niya, in-elect siya. Mas maganda siguro,” Pacquiao added.

(Officials in those positions should be elected. It would be better so that they won’t be compromised. They are there in the position because he or she was elected.)

He, however, clarified that there are officials, particularly in the administration’s Cabinet, that need to be appointed by the President — these include officials of the Department of Budget of Management, Department of Finance, and Bureau of Customs.

“Kasi ‘yan ang katulong niya (President) eh. Para sa akin, ha,” Pacquiao said.

(Because they would help the President run the country.)

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JPV