Palace exec wants Comelec replaced with interim group

A Malacañang official proposed yesterday drastic reforms in the country’s electoral system including replacing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) with an interim organization to bring back the people’s trust in the poll body.

National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, who is also chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP), also urged aspiring candidates, especially the presidential aspirants, to first help find ways on how to make the 2010 elections honest and credible.

He issued the statement as Palace officials last week said President Arroyo was still searching for qualified persons to be appointed as new Comelec commissioners, including the poll body’s chairman.

In a statement, Gonzales said the series of scandals involving election officials in the past have left the poll body’s reputation in tatters.

He pushed for a total revamp of the Comelec, saying that “the poll body is the greatest threat to our democracy.”

“Maintaining the status quo in the Comelec would further threaten democracy. We need to introduce changes, and we should do it right,” he said.

The national security chief said the present Comelec may be beyond salvaging and that an entirely new electoral system that is more effective in safeguarding the electoral process might be needed by the country.

Gonzales said instituting revolutionary changes in the country’s electoral system is one way of saving and re-invigorating democracy.

He said the foundations for these changes should be laid down now since the country will again hold national elections in two years.

He said he would make a formal proposal to Mrs. Arroyo this week on the possible reforms in the electoral system, including abolishing the Comelec to be replaced by a body that would be organized only every elections.

The proposed poll body would be created and organized by the Supreme Court, Gonzales said.

He said the PDSP is bent on finding and pushing for ways to restore people’s faith in the country’s electoral process since credible elections are fundamental to a democracy.

In their recent meeting, leaders of the PDSP noted that Philippine democracy is deteriorating at a very alarming rate brought about by selfish politicking and the loss of credibility of elections, he said.

Gonzales also questioned why presidential aspirants always talk about money when they mention their electoral plans.

“Why should money be the parameter in our elections?” he added.