NEW Comelec chairman Jose Melo had barely
warmed his seat when he vowed yesterday to quit if the national
elections in 2010 are not credible and honest.
Melo, a former Supreme Court justice, made
the statement after he was sworn in yesterday by Commissioner
Romeo Brawner, acting Comelec chair, at the Comelec head office
in Intramuros, Manila.
Melo said his stint in the Comelec will be
all about the success of the 2010 elections.
He batted for the computerization of the 2010
elections but "if not, we should at least have peaceful,
credible and honest elections."
Melo said he believes the Comelec would
regain the people’s trust in the light of its involvement in the
"Hello Garci" scandal, the anomalous purchase of the automated
machines and the electoral fraud in Maguindanao in 2007.
"The Comelec has good people. Leadership
counts a lot. I just hope to be an example for them to follow,"
he said.
He said he would adopt a hands-off stand on
the re-opening the "Hello Garci" case.
"Personally, I don’t think the Comelec should
be handling this matter. It also cannot be given to Congress
because it could be politicized. Rather, there should be an
independent commission that will handle it that will be given
the proper funding and proper power to call witnesses," he said.
Melo was first appointed by President Arroyo
last January to replace Benjamin Abalos Sr., who resigned last
October over allegations of his involvement in the $329 million
NBN-ZTE broadband scandal.
Melo was issued an interim appointment by
Malacañang last Monday when his appointment was not confirmed by
the Commission on Appointments when Congress went on Lenten
break last March 12. Congress resumes sessions on April 21.
Under the 1987 Constitution, interim
appointments are deemed effective until the next adjournment of
Congress.
Melo and Carlos Medina, a lawyer, were the
only two names nominated by civil society groups to the search
panel created by Malacañang.
Melo had said he would not assume his new
post until confirmation the CA as Congress was still in session
at the time.
But he said he decided to take over the
chairmanship when Wynne Asdala, officer-in-charge of the Law
Department, died Monday in an ambush as he stepped out of a fast
food outlet in Intramuros.
"Naramdaman ko nung mabalitaan ko iyon (Asdala
murder) na para akong ama na may nangyayari sa bahay at walang
ginagawa," he said.
"Hindi natin ito hinangad pero we must not
evade when duty calls. I guess our country is probably not yet
through with me," he said.
Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
said Melo should not have assumed his post pending confirmation.
Pimentel said he was told that the CA could not act on Melo’s
appointment as he lacked supporting documents. – Gerard
Naval and Dennis Gadil
