Is the slip of Melo showing?

I hope that Comelec chairman Jose Melo was merely misquoted by reporters. Because if he truly said what the papers quoted him as saying, then he has done his agency one very great disservice and maybe should not stay in his office one minute longer.

But that is putting the cart before the horse. So here is what happened. Melo was guest of honor at the inauguration of five classrooms at the Mabalacat National College in Pampanga when he was asked by reporters regarding a recall petition lodged against Governor Ed Panlilio.

Specifically, Melo was asked how the poll body may act with respect to the recall petition. "Even if we decide favorably for a recall election, we don't have the money for that. I don't know how we can hold a recall election," Melo was quoted as answering.

Fine. At that point, there was nothing that Melo said that was wrong. How can anyone argue against the incapacity of anyone to do anything that requires a lot of money to do? Melo could have ended the interview there and that would have been it.

But the man went on. He said that the Commission on Elections does not intend to request any funding from the Department of Budget and Management because to do so "would somehow wrongly hint" that the Arroyo administration is supporting the recall move against Panlilio.

What? Say that again? According to Melo "The DBM is basically Malacañang because it is under Malacañang. And I don't think Malacañang would want people to think that it's supporting the recall election."

Since when has it been the cup of wine of the Comelec to care what people think about Malacañang? Why is Melo so concerned about political ramifications when all that is being asked here is for the Comelec to exercise its mandate and constitutional duty.

If such mandate and constitutional duty demand that Comelec go somewhere to source funds to ensure the holding of recall elections, there the Comelec should go, without thought of the political consequences that are not its business to think of and be concerned about.

By being concerned about political consequences, the Comelec chairman unduly placed the institution he heads in a position whereby its objectivity and neutrality may be questioned and its integrity compromised.

To recall, Panlilio, who shed his priestly garb in favor of donning political armor, ran and won as an independent candidate for governor of Pampanga, the home province of President Arroyo, defeating two administration-backed candidates, Lito Lapid and Lilia Pineda.

True, for Malacañang to authorize the release of money to fund a recall election against Panlilio can easily be seen as a vengeful act against the tormentor of the president's allies. But why should that be any skin off the Comelec's back?

Since when has it become the business of the Comelec, or more specifically its chairman, to act as a PR consultant of Malacañang and its occupant? Since when has Melo assumed the role of crisis manager of the president?

These are very hard times. The global economy is headed for a meltdown, if we believe all that is being reported at the moment. So, if the government says there is no money for a recall election, that is something that is not very hard to believe. People can accept that.

But it is precisely because we are in deep crisis that we need to believe in leadership, and in institutions that work. We need to be reassured that the basic foundations upon which we stand are not going to give way under our feet. What a big letdown by Melo at this time.