Davide urged to reject post of GMA adviser on electoral reforms

Retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. was urged yesterday to reconsider his acceptance of the position of President Arroyo’s adviser on electoral reforms.

In issuing the appeal, House Minority Leader Francis Escudero said Davide’s acceptance of Mrs. Arroyo’s offer to become her adviser on reforming the electoral system demeans his former post of chief justice and head of the judiciary.

"It also diminishes his respectability. I think Chief Justice Davide should rethink his decision," he said.

Escudero’s appeal was shared by Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez, who said that while the retired justice formerly headed the judicial branch, as a presidential adviser, he would just become one of Mrs. Arroyo’s many subordinates.

He said the advisory position does not fit "one of the most distinguished and respected citizens of the Republic."

Pro-administration Rep. Abraham Mitra of Palawan disagreed with the two members of the minority. Mitra said with his background in law and elections, Davide "is the right man for the job."

"He will hopefully put things in order and restore the people’s confidence in our electoral system," he said.

Davide chaired the Commission on Elections before his appointment to the Supreme Court. Former President Joseph Estrada named him chief justice. Shortly after Mrs. Arroyo took over from Estrada in January 2001, he led the Supreme Court in upholding the constitutionality of then Vice President Arroyo’s ascension to the presidency as a result of the EDSA II people power revolution.

Instead of the position of presidential adviser, Golez suggested that the President create an independent electoral reform and truth commission with Davide as its chairman.

"We need a Davide Commission II that will study how to reform our electoral process. It can start by investigating the ‘Hello, Garci’ tape issue, the biggest election scandal in the history of our country," he said.

During the administration of former President Corazon Aquino, Davide headed a commission that investigated the failed 1989 coup attempt.

Golez said if Mrs. Arroyo really wants to find out the truth behind the "Hello, Garci" tape scandal that almost brought down her presidency, she should revive her previous plan to create a truth commission and name Davide as its chief.

He said the idea of a truth commission was shot down "because there was no one at that time who could credibly and independently head such a body."

He added: "Now we have a newly retired Chief Justice Davide who has the integrity, independence and legal skills to lead the way from the darkness we are in."

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales welcomed Davide’s appointment, saying it could signal a massive purge at the Comelec.

"The appointment of Justice Davide and the creation of the new position itself is a signal that President Arroyo is listening to our call for fundamental societal reforms," Gonzales told leaders of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas and the Aksyon Sambayanan during a multi-sectoral dialogue at Rembrandt Hotel the other day.

He said the Comelec needs a total overhaul to ensure honest and fair elections in the future.

Gonzales, who chairs the party-list PDSP, said he was also a victim of electoral fraud carried out with the connivance of corrupt election officials, though he gave no further details on the matter.

Besides seeking an overhaul in the Comelec, the PDSP also sought the immediate automation of the electoral system — from voter’s registration to vote counting.

PDSP members also urged Comelec officials to voluntarily resign from their posts to pave the way for new leadership in the poll body.

Party sources said the resignation of the Comelec chairman and commissioners would allow the President to appoint a new set of officials to the poll body: "We want people like Justice Davide and former Comelec chairman Christian Monsod to head the body and lead its cleansing."

The Philippine Bar Association (PBA) also lauded Davide’s appointment as the President’s electoral reform adviser despite criticisms that Davide’s appointment was part of a scheme to "bribe" members of the judiciary.

"We laud (Davide’s) appointment as adviser on electoral reforms," former PBA president and incumbent board member Linda Jimeno said. "His integrity and high degree of credibility will help the institution of much-needed reforms in the country’s electoral process."

Disagreeing with those claiming Davide was being used by Malacañang, Jimeno said: "The problem with our country is we ascribe too much negativism to every move by the government."

Saying Davide was still young enough to continue with public service, Jimeno said the former chief justice has everything it takes to be a good public servant "so why fault him for wanting to serve?"

For lawyers belonging to the group Counsels for the Defense of Civil Liberties (CODAL), however, Davide’s credibility was likely to suffer with the new appointment.

In a statement, CODAL also said Davide’s "acceptance of the post is tantamount to sweeping aside the charges of corruption committed by President Arroyo in the 2004 elections."

"The proposed Constitution of the House of Representatives does not promote electoral reform," CODAL spokesman Neri Colmenares said. "On the contrary, its design of the electoral system institutionalizes corruption and fraud." — With Perseus Echeminada and Michael Punongbayan