Poll Watchdog: Anybody But Macalintal for Comelec Chair

MANILA, Jan. 14, 2011—A poll watchdog organization criticized the nomination of former President Arroyo’s election lawyer Romulo Macalintal to head the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Kontra Daya, a multi-sectoral group composed of the clergy, teachers, IT professionals, students and activists, said that Atty. Romulo Macalintal is reportedly one of the frontrunners along with election lawyer Sixto Brillantes as next Comelec chairman.

It alleged that Macalintal’s nomination is being pushed by a faction within the Aquino administration identified with the Liberal Party.

“The nomination raises concerns. It does not speak well of the President and his vow to go after the corrupt and achieve closure on issues such as the ‘Hello Garci’ scandal,” said Fr. Joe Dizon, the group’s convenor.

While many recognize Macalintal as a competent election lawyer, Dizon said, he was at the forefront of the defense of Arroyo during the election fraud controversy.

“How can the current administration investigate the truth and find closure in the issue of election fraud when it plans to appoint an poll chief who has consistently denied the existence of election fraud during the 2004 polls?” he said.

The Kontra Daya was formed during the 2007 elections and was also an active monitoring group during the 2010 automated polls.

“With Macalintal at the helm of Comelec, would you expect the poll body to cooperate in investigations on election fraud?” Dizon asked.

Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said that Macalintal being appointed to the helm of Comelec would be “a supreme irony.”

“Wouldn’t it look ridiculous if findings of fraud in 2004 are established by other government bodies and the Comelec chair would still deny them? Macalintal stands out because of his long association and consistent defense of Mrs. Arroyo, especially during the Garci controversy and impeachment proceedings of 2005,” said Bayan Secretary General Renato Reyes, Jr.

“Nominees with known political affiliations create many complications. The independence of the Comelec is eroded if its officials are identified with different factions in government, especially those out to get a headstart for 2013,” he said.

Kontra Daya said the next Comelec chair will face the serious challenge of cleaning up the poll body of corrupt officials, making an honest assessment and initiating huge improvements in automated elections as well as cleaning up the partylist system of bogus groups.

The poll watchdog has not endorsed any person for the position of Comelec chair. (CBCPNews)