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Monday, February 16, 2004
Ajero: Why insist on him?
By Tony Ajero
Calidarium
Now that here has been so much noise about Garcillano's apppointment, the next question is: will President GMA insist on keeping him in the Comelec? Will she be as obstinate in her stand on Garcillano as she had shown in the cases of then justice secretary Nani Perez and defense secretary Anggie Reyes?
THE current controversy attendant to last week's appointment of Virgilio Garcillano to the Commission on Elections is another unfortunate incident in the Arroyo administration.
No less than Senate President Franklin Drilon, a known ally of President Arroyo has questioned the appointment, saying Garcillano has been accused of taking part in the infamous "dagdag-bawas" scam during the 1995 elections.
It may be recalled that senators Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Rodolfo Biazon were then victims of the vote-padding and shaving scheme. We remember Nene Pimentel accusing a fellow senator now also currently running as the matermind or at least a major beneficiary of the scam.
Drilon had called on Garcillano to resign for not having a sterling record in his previous stints in the Comelec. Asdie from the dagdag-bawas scandal, part of Garcillano's not so sterling record is his having served as election supervisor of the provinces of Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur and some other parts of Mindanao before and during the Marcos dictatorship.
However, Garcillano seems unfazed by the big question mark hovering over his integrity. That's why instead of quitting, he has pleaded to be given a chance to prove his worth.
We say, Mr. Garcillano should not be given the chance he is asking. He should quit and give President GMA - and the Filipino voters - a chance to look for a much better person.
The job of Comelec commissioner is serious appointment of anyone who would occupy such a position should not be left to chance. President Arroyo should not have appointed Garcillano in the first place if there was a shadow of dagdag-bawas and other accusations haunting him. Is the Philippines so lacking in persons more qualified and more credible than Garcillano to be in the Comelec?
Now that here has been so much noise about Garcillano's apppointment, the next question is: will President GMA insist on keeping him in the Comelec?
Will she be as obstinate in her stand on Garcillano as she had shown in the cases of then justice secretary Nani Perez and defense secretary Anggie Reyes?
Sorry to say this, but this stubbornness of GMA, although good to her erring lieutenants who'd like to stick to their jobs like bloodsucking leeches for obvious selfish reasons, is one of her weaknesses as a leader. It shows she's not very good at spotting the best and the brightest for her cabinet and other appointees to compose her official family.
(February 16, 2004 issue)
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