Wednesday, June 04, 2008 Transparency in choosing 3 poll commissioners sought
AN ELECTION watchdog said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should uphold a transparent appointment procedure that will complete the seven-panel of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Transparency and Accountability Network (TAN) executive director Vincent Lazatin said to be able to cleanse the damaged credibility of the election body, the President should reveal the process on how the new Comelec officials will be chosen.
“She is presented with yet another golden opportunity to rebuild the credibility of the Comelec by appointing commissioners through an open, transparent and inclusive process,” he said.
Among the specific requests of the group for Arroyo to consider are the public disclosures of the members of the search committee, the nominees, criteria for selection, candidates’ qualifications and the names of those endorsing specific bets.
He warned that not doing so will only result in further negative speculations that will hound the commission’s capability to conduct an impartial election.
The three Comelec positions remain to be vacant after the death of Commissioner Romeo Brawner last week due to heart attack, and when Commissioners Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason retired last February.
Earlier, Comelec Chairman Jose Melo relayed the message to the Chief Executive on the immediately appointments to fill up the vacancies as the August elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) draws near.
“Arroyo owes it to the voting public, to all potential candidates, foe or ally alike, to ensure an independent, non-partisan and competent Comelec through a transparent appointment process,” Lazatin said.
Aside from Melo, the Comelec en banc is composed of Rene Sarmiento, Nicodemo Ferrer and Moslemen Macarambon.
Meanwhile, the Comelec said the voters’ education for the Armm elections in Cotabato City has started.
The assembly will prepare the voters on how the two technologies -- the Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) and the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) -- work.
The campaign is being conducted in cooperation with citizens’ election watchdog groups such as the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente), Bishops-Ulama Council and the Citizens Coalition for Armm Electoral Reforms. (FP/Sunnex)
