Press Release
December 20, 2007

KIKO URGES SENATE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND ELECTORAL REFORMS TO LOOK INTO SEARCH COMMITTEE FOR THE COMELEC CHAIR PROCESS; PUSHES FOR COMMITTEE ACTION TO ENSURE GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN THE SELECTION PROCESS THROUGH PUBLIC HEARINGS
"Two weeks after the deadline set by the search committee we are still in the dark as to who have been nominated to a truly crucial post. This lack of transparency is unacceptable..." --- KIKO

Senate Majority Leader and Independent senator Kiko Pangilinan today urged the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Electoral reforms to look into the search committee for the Comelec Chair process and pushes for committee action to ensure greater transparency in the selection process through public hearings.

"The search committee should release to the public the list of nominees. Who are their backers, if any? What are their qualifications? How can we scrutinize the nominees if their names are being withheld?" Kiko said.

The Screening and Selection Committee formed by PGMA released paid ad last November 28 announcing that it has extended the period for submission of applications and nominations for the Chairman, Commission on Elections until December 6, 2007.

"Two weeks after the deadline set by the search committee we are still in the dark as to who have been nominated to a truly crucial post. This lack of transparency is unacceptable; the names of nominees must be published by the search committee in newspapers of general circulation as well as announced to broadcast media." Kiko said.

The position of COMELEC Chair was vacated by Benjamin Abalos following his resignation last October 1, 2007 amid accusations that he brokered the National Broadband Network contract between Chinese supplier ZTE Corp. and the Department of Transportation and Communication.

"The public must know who the contenders are so that opposition to or support for them is brought to the attention of the search committee." Kiko ended.

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