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Newly appointed elections chief Andres Bautista is expected to breeze through the confirmation process in the Commission on Appointments (CA).
Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, who is a member of the House CA contingent, said yesterday he expects the commission to speedily confirm Bautista’s appointment as chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“I will propose that we confirm him and the two other new appointees as soon as possible so that they and their four colleagues in the Comelec could focus on preparations for the May 2016 combined presidential-congressional-local elections,” Albano said.
“They have only about a year to work on such preparations and it is important that they not be burdened by lack of confirmation from us in doing their job,” he said.
Another CA member, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City, said he would ask his colleagues in the appointments body to immediately tackle Bautista’s appointment in the committee and plenary levels.
“I can vouch for his integrity and honesty. I personally know him. We took him as one of our law professors in San Sebastian when I was law dean and he was then a fresh graduate from Harvard,” he said.
“The President made the right decision in appointing him Comelec chairman,” he added.
But Rodriguez said the Comelec under its new leadership should immediately comply with the Supreme Court ruling nullifying the contract of the poll body with Smartmatic for the test and repair of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines.
He said the Comelec should immediately hold another bidding for the contract to ensure automated 2016 elections.
“If we go back to manual, we would likely see cheating,” Rodriguez told reporters.
Albano said he supports Aquino’s choice of Bautista as Comelec chairman.
“He is a highly accomplished professional who has performed very well in the private and public sectors. He is very honest and capable and has no political leanings,” Albano said of Bautista.
During Bautista’s tenure as chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), there were no reports of corruption in the agency, Albano said.
He noted that the former PCGG chairman had even recommended that the agency – formed to recover ill-gotten assets of the Marcoses and their cronies – be disbanded and its functions transferred to the Department of Justice as it had already largely accomplished its task.
Aside from Albano and Rodriguez, several CA members in the Senate have expressed support for Bautista’s appointment.
They include Senate President Franklin Drilon, who is CA presiding officer, and Sen. Sergio Osmeña III.
Bautista and newly appointed commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Sheriff Abas took their oath of office before acting Comelec Chairman Robert Christian Lim on Monday, shortly before Congress reconvened after a six-week Lenten break. Malacañang’s appointment of the three was dated April 28.
Under CA rules, appointments made while Congress is on recess are immediately effective and remain so until the next adjournment of Congress.
On the other hand, appointments made while Congress is in session need CA confirmation before they take effect.
Thus, Aquino had to name the new Comelec members before Monday’s reconvening of Congress so they could immediately assume office.
Their appointments will remain valid and become permanent if confirmed, otherwise, they will lapse on June 12 when Congress ends its second regular session.
A check with the CA website yesterday showed that Malacañang has not submitted the appointment papers of Bautista, Guanzon and Abas to the appointments body.
Automated or bust
ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Samuel Pagdilao said ensuring the next polls are automated is a test for the new Comelec chairman and his team.
“We don’t have to regress – we need to look forward or else the sins of the past will revisit us. I’m sure the young chairman will be able to handle this, and of course, with a lot of prayers from us,” Pagdilao said.
Cavite Rep. Elpido Barzaga Jr. said he expects Bautista to show his independence and shield the Comelec from the dictates and influence of the President and the ruling party.
Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the so-called independent bloc in the House, urged the new poll officials to remain independent and resist pressure from the administration.
“They should be independent and not be beholden to the self-interests of the ruling administration and anybody, especially the powerful and wealthy politicians,” Romualdez said.
“The challenge is enormous and they will face that along the way. We need someone who will outspokenly challenge the possible no-election scenario. They should work very hard to avert that,” he said.
Business groups also welcomed the appointment of Bautista as Comelec chief.
“Atty. Bautista brings with him not only a reputation for demonstrated competence and integrity, he also has the added advantages of being appointed at the peak of his career and of possessing proven executive capabilities as manifested in his previous role as chief executive officer of a major property development group. All these qualities will serve Atty. Bautista extremely well in his new role,” the Makati Business Club (MBC) said in a statement.
“MBC is prepared to be of whatever assistance may be deemed appropriate,” it said further.
Management Association of the Philippines president Francisco del Rosario, Jr. called Bautista an excellent choice for Comelec chief.
“He is honest, competent and forward-looking…We need more (people) like him,” he said in a text message.
European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive vice president Henry Schumacher said the group also views Bautista’s appointment as a positive development. “He is the right man for the job,” he said in a text message.
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Public Affairs Committee chairman Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said he hopes the Comelec under Bautista “would be transparent and would follow the Automated Election System (AES) law.”
Fr. Jerome Secillano, Pabillo’s executive secretary at CBCP-PAC, also lauded Bautista’s appointment.
“Appointing (Bautista) at Comelec is a good choice. He did well during his stint at PCGG and I am hoping that he will do the same in his new office,” Secillano said.
“Surely he has the wherewithal to lead an office that is seemingly always under public suspicion and this is the biggest challenge to date, to alter public perception by ensuring the credibility of the forthcoming elections,” he said.
While the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) expressed belief the appointment of Guanzon is part of the LP’s efforts to cement its control over the poll body to ensure that its presidential candidate wins “by hook or by crook” in the 2016 national elections, her provincemates, including Negros Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., lauded Guanzon’s appointment, saying “this will help Negros.”
“I wish her the best in her new job,” Cadiz City Mayor Patrick Escalante said.
“This is good for us because she’s from Negros Occidental. She’s a pride of the province,” said provincial election supervisor Jessie Suarez.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, for his part, thanked President Aquino “for making a wise choice” by appointing Bautista.
“Under his leadership, I am confident Comelec is well up to the important challenge of ensuring free and clean elections as a vital component of Philippine democracy,” Binay said.
He said Bautista’s appointment “marks a turning point in the strengthening of this vital institution of our democratic system.” – With Evelyn Macairan, Helen Flores, Danny Dangcalan, Mike Frialde, Louella Desiderio, Paolo Romero 

Source:Yahoo! News