Abalos says he will not resign despite Supreme Court setback

Amid calls for his resignation, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos said yesterday he will not step down because of a "higher calling" to attend to the needs of the commission.

Various groups, including the influential Makati Business Club (MBC), have been urging Abalos and Commissioner Luzviminda Tancangco to resign following the Supreme Court (SC) decision junking the automated polling system the Comelec was trying to implement.

"From hereon I shall refrain from making any effort to reply to baseless calls for my resignation. I have said my piece. There is a higher calling to attend to the needs of the commission and ensure that it performs its mandate," Abalos said in a statement.

He added that he "shall not compromise the execution of my sworn duty with occasional bouts of frustration at how unfair, spiteful and self-serving some individuals can be."

Abalos said the SC decision, made public Jan. 13, was a major setback for the Comelec, which will now have to prepare for manual tabulation of votes.

"Aside from upsetting our timetables which have been premised on a computerized vote-counting system, it initiated a wave of public opinion that has been vicious and unfair. Now, the commission is expending precious time and energy defending itself against attacks hurled against us," he said.

Abalos said the order of the day for the Comelec is to be on top of preparations for the manual system of elections. He noted that the Comelec’s initial meeting with representatives of political parties and party-list groups, wherein they outlined security and control features designed to protect the integrity of ballots and election returns, was "both productive and encouraging."

"I only hope that similar confidence-building dialogues may be conducted with other groups, groups as far-reaching and influential as those who are now assailing me," Abalos said.

Meanwhile, the Malacañang search committee has started to screen nominees to the posts held by Tancangco and Commissioner Ralph Lantion, who are ending their five-year fixed terms of office on Feb. 2.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye acknowledged yesterday the need to fill up the posts about to be vacated by Tancangco and Lantion, both appointees of deposed President Joseph Estrada, in view of the forthcoming May elections.

"I’m sure that the President will take care of this particular responsibility in due time as soon as the vacancy occurs, then I’m sure there will be a scouting. Even at this time, there is a search for possible replacement," he told reporters.

With the end of the terms of Tancangco and Lantion, the Comelec will be composed entirely of Mrs. Arroyo’s appointees.

"What the President wants right now is to have the elections this second week of May and she’s calling on all sectors to rally behind the holding of elections on time. The more we cooperate towards this aim, the better for all of us," Bunye said.

He shrugged off rumors that he and presidential liaison on political affairs Jose Rufino were among those being considered for the two Comelec posts.

Bunye, however, failed to say how the Palace search committee, chaired by Bernardino Abes, conducts its vetting process in the search and selection of nominees to replace the two Comelec commissioners.

On the issue of the MBC’s call for Abalos’ resignation, Bunye refused to be drawn into replying, except to say that Mrs. Arroyo still maintains her trust and confidence in Abalos, who can only be removed though impeachment by Congress.

"The President is supporting the aim of Comelec for clean, honest and orderly elections. And the President believes in order for us to have this clean, honest and orderly elections, we should have a Comelec that is very supportive of this particular aim and she’s calling for all sectors to support the Comelec as an institution," he said.

Bunye explained that he is "just limiting myself to what the President has said. That’s how the President reacted to this particular situation and we’re reiterating her stand on the matter."

He also refused to say how Mrs. Arroyo viewed opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr.’s filing of graft charges against Abalos before the Ombudsman.

"What we’re saying is what is provided right now in our laws, the manner of removal of Comelec officials is by impeachment and this lies with… the legislature but certainly Senator Pimentel can try what the law really is in this particular regard," Bunye said.

He added that Mrs. Arroyo "does not want to go into details at this time."

"All that she would like to reiterate is we have to safeguard the integrity of the Comelec as an institution…The primary objective of the President is to have an election held as scheduled as provided for by law," Bunye said. — Marichu Villanueva