GMA taking her time on Comelec nominees

President Arroyo is taking her own sweet time in going over the evaluation of the nominees recommended to fill up two vacancies in the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Mrs. Arroyo, who is seeking a full six-year term in the May 10 elections, said "there is no deadline" for her and explained why it is not urgent to name the two new Comelec appointees.

"I have to study my choices. I have to look at their individual qualifications," Mrs. Arroyo told a crowd in Tiaong, Quezon during her visit there yesterday.

She also rejected suggestions for her to name members of the political opposition to the two Comelec vacancies.

"There is no quota system here to fill up," Mrs. Arroyo said in Filipino.

The President said a number of names have been suggested to fill up the vacancies at the poll body following the retirement of commissioners Luzviminda Tancangco and Ralph Lantion earlier this week.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye had previously said there already is a "short list" but declined to name those nominated.

"I have not appointed anyone yet. So, of course, there are a lot of nominees. But no one yet has been chosen," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"But I’m not at liberty to say who are the nominees," she added.

Bunye has said a search committee headed by Bernardino Abes is still undertaking the vetting process of the nominees.

Even as he refused to identify the nominees, Bunye said Malacañang will make the necessary announcements once Mrs. Arroyo issues the appointments.

He gave reassurances that Mrs. Arroyo has all the intentions to immediately fill up the two Comelec vacancies as the May 10 polls draw near.

Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo has yet to sit down with her Palace search committee to discuss the nominees in the list to replace Tancangco and Lantion, both appointees of former President Joseph Estrada, who formally ended their seven-year terms of office last Monday.

With the end of terms of Tancangco and Lantion, the majority of remaining Comelec commissioners led by Chairman Benjamin Abalos are all appointees of the President. — Marichu Villanueva