Aquino asked not to appoint Macalintal as election chief

Thursday, January 13, 2011

WOMEN Reproductive Health (RH) advocates in Iloilo City asked President Benigno Aquino III not to accept, or consider lawyer Romulo Macalintal as the next chairman of the poll body.

Dr. Betty Polido, president of the Iloilo chapter of the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), said they support the opposition made by the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) against Macalintal's possible appointment.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

DSWP earlier said that Macalintal may be a good election lawyer but his being a religious conservative and his intolerance of views opposing his are dangerous.

"We need more progressive, or at the very least open-minded, people in the Comelec (Commission on Elections)," Elizabeth Angsioco of DSWP said.

Macalintal is a lawyer and close adviser of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the RH advocates said.

Polido said that Macalintal, together with Prolife Philippines, harassed and shouted at Catholic reproductive health (RH) advocates, virtually calling them Satan, outside the Manila Cathedral last November 20, 2010.

The lawyer's intolerance, even arrogance, was caught on video. He was also seen trying to grab one of the cameras. Thus, the prospect of having someone like him calling the shots in the Comelec is alarming, the advocates said.

Polido also said that there are many qualified candidates for the Comelec chairmanship, with equal or more qualifications than Macalintal, and Malacañang should not be bamboozled into accepting the lawyer as the election commission's chief. (Lydia C. Pendon)