KNP to GMA: Recall Comelec appointees

The opposition Koalis-yon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) urged President Arroyo yesterday to recall the appointments of the two new officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to dispel suspicions that she is trying to undermine the candidacy of her main rival, Fernando Poe Jr.

Commissioners Manuel Barcelona, Virgilio Garcillano and Florentino Tuason agreed with a petition seeking Poe’s disqualification now pending with the Supreme Court.

Barcelona and Garcillano were appointed by Mrs. Arroyo last Feb. 2 to replace Ralph Lantion and Luzviminda Tancangco whose terms expired Feb. 4.

Barcelona, Garcillano and Tuason backed one of three petitions — filed by lawyer Victorino Fornier — seeking Poe’s disqualification on citizenship grounds currently pending with the Supreme Court.

Fornier elevated his petition to the high tribunal for appeal after the Comelec had rejected it.

Fornier said Poe should be disqualified because he is allegedly not a natural-born Filipino. He was born out of wedlock and should therefore assume the American citizenship of his mother, Fornier claimed.

Children born out of wedlock should assume the citizenship of the mother, he said.

The Comelec rejected his petition, contending that Poe was a natural-born Filipino because he assumed the citizenship of his Filipino father.

Poe’s father was a Filipino citizen despite his Spanish heritage, it said.

Barcelona, Garcillano and Tuason disagreed with the majority Comelec ruling and each submitted separate dissenting opinions in their comment on Fornier’s appeal.

Poe’s camp suspects that Barcelona and Garcillano might tip the balance against Poe. Five of the seven-member Comelec, including chairman Benjamin Abalos, are Arroyo appointees.

KNP spokesman Mike Romero said Mrs. Arroyo should recall the appointments of Barcelona and Garcillano.

"The grounds raised by these two Arroyo appointees in asking the high court to disqualify FPJ were the same arguments that were thrown out by the Comelec en banc," Romero said.

"Their twisted logic in having the strongest candidate disqualified from the presidential race only bolsters the growing public perception that they were named to the Comelec by President Arroyo just to protect her political interests," he said.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who is seeking re-election under Poe’s coalition, said Barcelona and Garcillano have "shown their true colors."

"They make the Comelec the laughingstock of the nation and imperil clean elections," he said.

Pimentel had earlier urged Congress to extend its session so the legislature can screen Barcelona and Garcillano.

Only through the confirmation process can the integrity and independence of the incoming election commissioners be tested, he said.

"Members of the Commission on Appointments should not abdicate their constitutional duty of looking into the background and qualifications of the incoming Comelec commissioners. They should not play deaf and dumb to the public sentiment that those who will man the ramparts of our electoral system must be non-partisan and independent," Pimentel said.

Poe’s camp also accuses Malacañang of trying to cheat its way in the May polls by appointing Garcillano. The Palace denied the charge.

Pimentel has accused Garcillano of involvement in poll fraud that denied him victory in the 1995 senatorial elections.

Garcillano was Comelec director for Northern Mindanao until he retired two years ago. He has denied the accusation. — With Bong Fabe