Friday, November 02, 2007 Veteran judge to join Comelec
PRESIDENT Arroyo appointed Iligan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Moslemen Macarambon as a Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Macarambon was chosen by the President from a list of nominees submitted to Malacañang, but he does not know when the appointment paper was signed.
However, he said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita already sent the appointment papers to the Comelec last Wednesday.
“It was relayed to me that a certain Moslemen Macarambon was appointed, an interim appointee, as a commissioner. We call it an interim appointment because Congress is not in session. He will be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments the moment Congress resumes session,” Commissioner Rene Sarmiento told ABS-CBN News Channel.
He said Macarambon was not on the list of nominees Malacañang submitted to the Comelec.
The nominees were Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, former senator Rene Saguisag, law dean Amado Valdez, Comelec law department chief Alioden Dalaig, lawyer Severo Maluenda and law professor Howard Calleja.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno earlier said the list included those from the opposition as part of efforts by the administration to reconcile with its political foes.
A judge for the past 30 years, Macarambon was reportedly recommended by former chief justice and former presidential consultant on electoral reforms Hilario Davide Jr., now the Philippine representative to the United Nations.
Macarambon has served as a judge in the RTCs of Malabang in Lanao del Sur and Iligan City in Lanao del Norte.
Bunye said that aside from Macarambon, there are no other new appointees to the Comelec. He also said it is unlikely that a new chairman would be named so soon after the resignation of Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. last month.
“I think it would be useless to name a new chairman soon because the remaining or unexpired portion of the term to be served is only up to February next year,” Bunye said.
The Comelec is now headed by Commissioner Resurreccion Borra, as acting chairman.
There are two vacancies in the seven-man commission, with two more commissioners expected to retire early next year. (Sunnex)
