Comelec faces eviction as Abas assumes chairman’s post

MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sheriff Abas is facing many problems, including the possibility of having no office even before he assumes the post.

In a media forum yesterday, election lawyer George Garcia said the Comelec has been notified to vacate the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros by December.

The Palacio has served as the Comelec’s home since the old two-story main office beside the Palacio was burned down in 2007.

“Besides other issues, one of his biggest problems is that he will become the chairman of a Commission without a home,” said Garcia, legal counsel of losing vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 

For election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, the bigger problem is where will Comelec transfer its voluminous records, including pending electoral protest filed by Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo.

“This is a cause for alarm because at this time there is an ongoing decryption of ballots from 2,700 precincts that are under protest in relation to the Marcos vs Robredo electoral case,” he said.

“There is also a need to notify all parties before any document related to pending electoral case can be transferred,” he added.

Garcia said Abas will also face credibility and transparency issues against the poll body like the questions on the efficiency of the precinct count optical scan machines used in the elections.

The Comelec should also be conducting the bidding for the machines to be used in the 2019 elections.

“If they do it now, they have more time to test and eventually affirm the credibility of the machines and the Comelec in conducting clean elections,” Garcia said.

To address the issue of credibility and accountability, Garcia said, the new Comelec leadership must push for amendments of the outdated election laws.

“The problem in the Comelec is not the people, but the system because the people are working under outdated laws. It is high time for the commission to push for amendments of existing election laws,”  he added.

Garcia also noted that Abas will supervise the conduct of the 2018 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, which could be crucial if the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Basic Law will be held at the same time.

Abas is yet to assume the Comelec’s top post because his nomination still needs the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments (CA). He will serve the unexpired four years of former Comelec chief Andres Bautista.