Palace to resolve concerns on Lanto appointment to Comelec

MANILA -- Malacanang vowed Friday to resolve the concerns on the appointment of Macabangkit Lanto as commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacieda, in a text message to reporters, said that part of President Benigno Aquino III's Social Contract with the Filipino people is to restore the credibility of the electoral process.

"Be assured that any concerns about Comelec appointments will be resolved in a timely manner," he said.

Some groups have been questioning the appointment of Lanto to the poll body after he was allegedly involved in the election cheating in 1992 when he ran for a congressional seat in Lanao del Norte. He allegedly benefited from the said exercise, but in 1994, the House Representatives Electoral Tribunal unseated him and declared his opponent Mario Hisuler as the rightful winner.

Despite allegations against Lanto, in an earlier press briefing, Lacierda defended the appointment of the new poll official.

"Our understanding is he has performed credibly when he was still with the Department of Justice, when he was Ambassador to a Middle East country," he said.

Asked if Lanto's appointment to the Comelec was endorsed by Senator Franklin Drilon, the campaign manager of the administration senatorial candidates, Lacierda said, "I'm not part of the screening process, so whether he was recommended by Senator Drilon or not, I’m in no position to answer that."

Aquino appointed Lanto and election lawyer Bernadette Sardillo to the Comelec posts to replace Rene Sarmiento and Armando Velasco who both retired as commissioners on February 2. (SDR/Sunnex)