P-Noy wants next Comelec chief to settle poll cases quickly

MANILA, Philippines –  President Aquino wants the next Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman to resolve electoral protests immediately or ahead of the expiration of the terms of officials involved.

“We want somebody who is better than all of them (nominees) who will not allow the gaming of the system, and let the mandate of the electorate be that which is expressed. So we need that one,” he told reporters after the New Year’s vin d’honneur. Aquino declined to name the nominees.

“Sometimes deciding the case takes too long. In a lot of instances you get the decision days or a week prior to the termination of the term. Why is that? There are so many lawyers, while they are experts, they have gained the knowledge to game the system,” he added. 

So the mandate of the electorate is not properly addressed, Aquino stressed.

The Comelec has earned notoriety for resolving protests near the end of the term of the winning party. The Comelec handles protests involving local officials like mayors and governors.

Electoral protests of congressmen are handled by the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal. The Senate Electoral Tribunal handles protests involving senators, while protests in the presidential and vice presidential race are handled by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.

“He (next chairman) has to be young enough, but experienced enough,” he said. “Then you have the two other (retiring) commissioners, one of whom has to be an IT expert,” Aquino added, referring to Commissioners Gregorio Larrazabal and Nicodemo Ferrer.

“Again, we have an opportunity to really transform our electoral process through the selection of these people. So that’s the only criteria: Will you be able to do the job that is expected of you? And also, I have to conduct some interviews with him,” he said.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo’s resignation takes effect on Jan. 31, or years ahead of the end in 2015 of his seven-year term. His successor will be serving his unexpired term, which will be good for five years.

Ferrer and Larrazabal will be bowing out of office in February this year.

Having an expertise in election law, Aquino stressed, will definitely be a criterion, because he is looking for somebody who has the skills and efficiency to address common concerns during election period.

Some of the names that have so far cropped up are Supreme Court Justice Eduardo Antonio Nachura, Aquino’s former colleague at the House of Representatives, retired SC Justice Leonardo Quisumbing and veteran election lawyer Sixto Brillantes Jr.