Cuenco to call for revamp of Comelec

Cebu City South District Representative Antonio Cuenco would call for a major revamp of the Commission on Elections in a privilege speech that he will deliver when Congress resumes in August.

Considering that Comelec is a constitutional body tasked to uphold the right of suffrage and at least one of its top officials is under raps over a wiretapping controversy, Cuenco said revamp of the entire commission is a must to reform its tarnished image.

He said Comelec has now lost its credibility with the recording of a tapped telephone conversation allegedly between former commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and some politicians, including President Arroyo, allegedly to manipulate the results of the 2004 polls.

According to Cuenco, instances where candidates in an election call Comelec officials is not an isolated case although he did not categorically say that they had a hand in rigging election results in favor of a candidate.

"We can't just rely on the tapes because it's everybody's opinion. But the better option is to have a sweep replacement of all Comelec officials," he said.

He said the major revamp is a better and fast alternative than removing them from office through impeachment proceedings.

The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the Comelec chairman and the six commissioners shall be appointed by the President and such appointment be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

These seven Comelec officials compose the commission en banc. Three of them shall have a seven-year term of office; the two others, five years; and the remaining members, three years; without reappointment.

To date, Comelec is composed of chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr. and commissioners Rufino Javier, Mehol Sadain, Resurreccion Borra, and Florentino Tuason.

However, the reappointment of Garcillano and Manuel Barcelona, Jr., who had interim appointments as commissioners, were bypassed by the CA. - Cristina C. Birondo