Tanjuatco nominated Comelec chairman

The National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), BBC and various multi-sectoral organizations formally nominated yesterday Atty. Emigdio Tanjuatco, Jr. for chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

Tanjuatco was the chair the House of Representatives’ Electoral Reforms and Suffrage Committee during the 10^th Congress and was principal author of two important bills related to the electoral process: Republic Act 8436 modernizing the counting process at the city and provincial levels and the anti-political dynasty bill.

The nomination was announced by Namfrel national co-chairmen Jose Concepcion, Jr. and Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez; BBC co-chairman Bishop Ramon Villena; Bishop Efraim Tendero of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches; His Eminence Ricardo Cardinal Vidal; Atty. Miguel Varela, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industries; Donald Dee, president of the Exporters Confederation of the Philippines; Teddy Casiño, secretary-general of BAYAN; and Edward Go, past president of the Management Association of the Philippines and the Bankers Association of the Philippines; along with leaders from the business, civic groups, teachers, labor, students, farmers, and urban poor groups.

Two others were nominated by the group for the position of COMELEC Commissioners – Attorneys Resurreccion Borra and Jose Luis Martin Gascon.

Prior to his retirement last year as Comelec executive director, Atty. Borra had had a distinguished career in the Comelec for nearly four decades, starting as a field attorney in Comelec Rizal in 1963. He had observed elections and conducted studies in Cambodia, the USA, and Bangladesh. In 1997-2000, Atty. Borra was national president of the National Council of Career Executive Service Organizations, Inc.

Meanwhile, Atty. Gascon was the youngest member of the Constitutional Commission formed in 1986. Four years later, he was appointed to the 8th Congress representing the youth and had contributed significantly to the enactment of the law to increase the involvement of young persons in local government.

The nominees were said to be chosen because of their integrity, probity, and competence, past performances and their capability to carry out the tasks required of the positions.

Among the individuals and organizations who have supported Namfrel and BBC’s nominations of Tanjuatco, Borra and Gascon were Bro. Rolando Dizon, FSC, president of De La Salle University; Mahar Mangahas; Vicente Jayme; Ricardo Pascua; Felipe Alfonso; Amb. Howard Dee; Archbishop Edmundo Abaya; Bishop Jesus Cabrera and Fr. Francis Lucas of the Catholic Media Network; Bishop Ramon Arguelles, Bishop Antonio Ledesma, Bishop Rolando Tria Tirona, Bishop Nestor Carino; Fr. Eliseo Mercado, Jr., President of the Notre Dame University of Cotabato City; Mo. Clarita Balleque, chairperson of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of Women of the Philippines; Catherine Denise Jayme, president of the Union of Catholic Student Councils of the Philippines; Augusto Lagman, chairperson, Philippine Computer Society; Teresa Nieva of the Concerned Women of the Philippines; Ernesto Aboitiz; and Sr. Luz Emmanuel Soriano, RA.