Namfrel gets ready; Joecon steps down as chair

The National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has started preparing for its traditional quick count for the May 14 elections even as it is yet to secure accreditation from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Namfrel chairman Jose Concepcion said 170 participating organizations have coordinated their efforts to monitor the election operations following the assurance of Comelec officials of accreditation early next week.

Concepcion said this assurance from Comelec came after he agreed to step down as chairman of the election watchdog to finally end the issue raised against him. Critics pointed out Concepcion, being an elected barangay official, is in an awkward position leading an electoral watchdog group.

Concepcion said he was given the assurance by Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos and Commissioner Resurreccion Borra to accredit Namfrel in an en banc session on Tuesday next week.

Concepcion said he decided to surrender the leadership of Namfrel "so we could end the problem already."

He said Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez, Namfrel co-chairman, will temporarily take his place as acting chairman.

"I will become the founding chairman and the Comelec sees no problem with it. Our executive committee will soon meet and decide who will be the next chairman," Concepcion said.

He said Abalos explained to him that the accreditation would come relatively late because of some efforts to revive some "conditions" in the quick count scheme.

"It’s the first time that our accreditation from Comelec is delayed. I just don’t want to speculate why it took them sometime," Concepcion said.

Apart from Namfrel, the National Secretariat for Social Action, Peace and Justice (NASSA) is also seeking accreditation from Comelec for quick count operations.

Comelec earlier advised Namfrel and NASSA to join forces for a joint quick count instead.

Concepcion said Namfrel officials and representatives of its participating organizations will meet to discuss possible reforms in the quick count operations.

But he revealed the main operation would still be held in their national headquarters at the La Salle stadium in Greenhills, San Juan. – AFP