Abalos is Comelec chairman

A former judge and mayor faces his toughest task yet.

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benjamin Abalos was appointed by President Arroyo yesterday as head of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), a constitutional body that continues to be wracked by internal discord and intrigue.

Abalos takes over from Alfredo Benipayo, President Arroyo’s original choice who has been bypassed seven times by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Malacañang said yesterday the President reappointed two Comelec commissioners bypassed by the CA – Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason.

Also reappointed were Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez, both of whom have also been repeatedly bypassed by the CA.

Acting Presidential Spokesman Silvestre Afable stressed that Mrs. Arroyo’s decision to let go of Benipayo was not due to misgivings about his performance in office.

"That’s not it. He (Benipayo) may have asked not to be reappointed," Afable said.

Asked whether Abalos, a known ally of the administration, would be fair and impartial as head of the poll body, Afable said, "Chairman Abalos has always shown fairness as a political leader."

He said Malacañang is confident the new MMDA chief can help put an end to the constant bickering between rival blocs within the poll body.

In a separate interview, Abalos said he was eager to begin working as Comelec head, vowing to eradicate cheating in the electoral system.

"Having been a victim of cheating twice, I want to do something to stop electoral fraud," said the former Mandaluyong mayor.

Abalos has served 10 years as a judge, a prosecutor and a mayor for several terms. During the Marcos regime, he lost in several bids to run for assemblyman and mayor.

He vowed to do everything to stop the internal conflict that has divided the Comelec.

The new Comelec chief declined to identify his possible successor at the MMDA, saying the President should be the one announcing the appointment.

Abalos said, however, that the next MMDA chairman should be a mayor or a former mayor since the position requires an understanding of day-to-day activities at the local government level.

Palace sources said possible candidates for the vacant slot are former Muntinlupa Mayor Ignacio Bunye and Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando.

Comelec coup?

The appointment of Abalos was announced just as four Comelec commissioners staged a coup of sorts by taking over the leadership of the divided poll body.

Commissioners Rufino Javier, Ralph Lantion and Mehol Sadain and Luzviminda Tancangco elected an acting chairman from their ranks during a special en banc meeting at the Comelec head office in Intramuros, Manila yesterday morning.

Javier was named the acting Comelec chairman while Sadain was named acting spokesman and commissioner-in-charge of the poll body’s Education and Information Department (EID).

The four commissioners, all appointees during the Estrada administration, have long been at odds with Benipayo and the two other commissioners, questioning their legal authority to remain in the Comelec and opposing the confirmation of their appointments.

In an interview, Sadain said the terms of Benipayo, Borra and Tuason expired last June 4, when Congress adjourned. He noted the President has yet to reappoint the three men or name others to fill the vacancies.

"We had to reorganize ourselves to fill the hiatus," Sadain said. "The three have no legal personalities now."

He said they wanted to bring back the old policy "of electing an acting chairman when there is no one to lead the poll body.

"If there is no acting chairman, the Comelec will be in limbo," Sadain said.

Javier, who has served as acting Comelec chairman before, is the most senior among the top officials of the poll body.

Tancangco, however, clarified that what took place was just a temporary reorganization. "Only the en banc was reorganized, not the entire Comelec.