Con-com scraps 2007 elections

Voting 22 to 19, commissioners of the presidential consultative commission (con-com) approved in plenary session yesterday a proposal to scrap the holding of the 2007 elections.

Two commissioners — Victor Ortega, incumbent governor of La Union, and Angelo Abarico, editor and publisher of the Mindanao Business Reporter — abstained from voting.

The proposal to scrap the 2007 elections is part of a list of amendments being proposed by the con-com’s sub-committee on transitory provisions.

The goal was to facilitate the transition from the present presidential form of government to the proposed parliamentary-federal government.

Under Section 7 of the proposed transitory provisions, the elections scheduled in 2007 will be canceled and the terms of office of all elected officials will be extended to June 30, 2010, coinciding with the terms of the incumbent President and Vice President and the 12 senators elected in 2004.

Elections under the amended Constitution will be held on the second Monday of May 2010 and every five years thereafter.

On Tuesday night, the commissioners voted 18 to 16 to hold elections in 2007. The result of the voting was, however, questioned yesterday, forcing the con-com to hold another round of nominal voting.

Commissioners, especially those supporting the scrapping of the 2007 polls, have been very emotional in defending their stand.

"We need the transition period. An election in 2007 will only disrupt the transition period," said STAR columnist and con-com commissioner Carmen Pedrosa.

Protestant Bishop Efraim Tendero, however, said that holding elections in 2007 will be just. "I do not want the Charter to be held hostage by some people. By having the elections in 2007, we are doing what is just," he said.

Many commissioners, however, said an election in 2007 would not only be costly — as it would closely follow the plebiscite to ratify the amended Charter — but would also be politically divisive.

The con-com’s committee on transitory provisions likewise proposed that senators elected in 2004 shall serve until the approval of the amendments and automatically become members of parliament from the date of the amended Charter’s implementation until June 30, 2010.

All members of the Senate and the House of Representatives shall become automatic members of the parliament.

Another proposal is that one-third of the Cabinet plus 30 persons, who are experts in their respective fields shall become members of parliament upon appointment by the President.

A prime minister shall be elected by members of parliament from among their ranks. During the transition period, the elected prime minister shall serve as the presiding officer of the unicameral legislature.