EDITORIAL — Running out of time

In less than five months there will be elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where the past two votes have been marred by accusations of cheating. In two years the nation will hold general elections. Yet until Congress went on its Lenten break, Malacañang had not yet formally nominated a chairman of the Commission on Elections for confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

Yesterday, as lawmakers wondered if President Arroyo was having second thoughts about her choice, Palace officials announced that she would issue an ad interim appointment to retired Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo, whose appointment as Comelec chairman was announced earlier this year. Palace officials probably thought Melo would be like other presidential appointees, who immediately assumed office and continue to occupy their posts without bothering to wait for CA confirmation. Several Cabinet members have been at their posts for months and even years without the benefit of the CA’s nod. Even retired Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. flew pronto to New York to assume the post of ambassador to the United Nations without waiting for CA confirmation.

Melo, on the other hand, has refused to assume the top Comelec post without the CA’s blessings. Before Congress went on its Lenten break, another Comelec nominee, Commissioner Moslemen Macarambon, failed to hurdle the CA after a piqued Sen. Jamby Madrigal invoked Section 20 of CA rules to block the confirmation of 24 military officers, in the process including Macarambon and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

The Comelec, long under fire for the conduct of recent elections, should by now be scrambling to do a better job in 2010, when Filipinos are scheduled to pick a new president and other national leaders. The scandal that erupted over the conduct of the presidential vote in 2004 continues to have adverse effects on national life. By now there should be a determined effort to ensure that a similar scandal will not destroy the integrity of the next general elections. For this, the Comelec needs a capable head with integrity and independence. Jose Melo, if he is still Malacañang’s choice, is running out of time to do a good job.