President Arroyo was urged yesterday to make public the names of nominees for chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Sen. Francis Pangilinan said the public should be informed of the names of the nominees, and that they should be strictly scrutinized.
“We urge PGMA to issue marching orders for the search committee of the next Comelec chairman to make the process more transparent, ensuring the broadest participation of citizens in the search,” he said.
“The public must be asked to submit position papers for or against the nominees. Not only will it encourage participatory government, but it will likewise help the committee arrive at a credible decision.”
Pangilinan said the public should be given a perspective on the integrity of nominees by subjecting them to public interviews.
“Nominees must make known their vision for the Comelec, their plans and proposals to modernize the election process, their stand regarding Lintang Bedol and cheating in Maguindanao and other crucial issues that affect the Comelec today,” he said.
“I for one would like to know what the future chair plans to do with the rotting counting machines from the illegal Mega Pacific deal. These are valid issues that need to be answered by those who seek the post of Comelec chair.”
The search committee is headed by Bernardino Abes, who served as labor secretary and later as Social Security System chairman under the administration of President Diosdado Macapagal.
Members of the committee include businessman and key player of the National Movement for Free Elections Jose Concepcion, Philippine STAR columnist Carmen Pedrosa, former finance secretary Vicente Jayme, and Democrito Mendoza of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines. – Christina Mendez