Inheriting a mess

Everyone seems to be satisfied, happy and even upbeat on the appointment of Jose Melo as the new Comelec chairman, replacing Benjamin Abalos who resigned in disgrace after the now infamous but unresolved ZTE/NBN exposé. He certainly does not have big shoes at all to fill, but will certainly be inheriting a mess. You might say it is pretty much like what Corazon Aquino had to face when she was catapulted to the Presidency inheriting 20 years of Marcos’ dictatorial rule and a ravaged economy.

The next presidential elections is barely two years away. Issues like the Helo Garci Scandal that has left the legitimacy of the ruling President Gloria Arroyo still in question by those who choose to remember and compunded by the unfathomable that is the blatantly mangled version of democratic elections in Maguindanao. May we also remind everyone of the bungled P 1.3 billion computerization program of the Comelec --- a contract entered into with Mega Pacific and then Comelec Chairman Abalos, and where money had already changed hands --- rendered moot and invalid by the Supreme Court. No automation, no computers, and the public is once again in debt and poorer by more than a billion pesos.

And then what about naked attempts to favor candidates who serve at the pleasure of the administration and President Gloria Arroyo’s survival while keeping the world of critical opponents as small as possible? The credibility of the Comelec is shot. No, maybe almost ground zero. I guess there’s no way but up. Is former Associate Justice Jose Melo a way up?

Most have expressed satisfaction over the choice --- even opposition senators and congressmen.

Still, there are those who have expressed concerns over his advance age of 75. Melo himself has allayed concerns regarding his health, as he comes out of retirement to serve once again.

It’s been a while since a presidential appointee has had a widespread approval and satisfaction from almost all sectors of society and government, especially in the light of Karina David’s bombshell revelation and accusations. This only makes the challenge for Melo even more daunting, as he attempts to clean up an agency of the government that has all but lost its credibility to the public. And his utmost priority – automation of the next presidential elections. As per his statements, it is the only way to ensure clean elections by 2010. A very noble goal indeed, in a country where elections are ALWAYS mired in cheating, violence and fraud.

And it seems the ghost of Abalos past will not spare Jose Melo. He has been challenged by Sen. Biazon to re-open the Hello Garci case, and bring closure to the controversy surrounding the 2004 presidential elections. Personally I doubt if that is in the new commissioner’s agenda, if he is bent on automating the next presidential elections. Right now, we are witnessing how a clean election looks like, with the ongoing primaries in the US to determine the respective presidential candidates of the two political parties. It is really amazing to see how results are immediately known as to who won in a particular state, with no protests whatsoever regarding fraud, cheating or even violence!

Jose Melo has his work cut out for him. We can only hope that he lives up to the expectations of everyone who seem to be satisfied with his appointment. It is said that absolute power corrupts absolutely. We can only hope that Jose Melo is the exception, rather than the rule.