Comelec chair vows to resign if 2010 polls are postponed

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections chairman Jose Melo on Thursday said he will resign his post if reported plans to amend the Constitution and postpone the 2010 elections push through.

In an interview with reporters, Melo said such a scenario would render the Comelec useless and will bring the country back to a Martial Law-like era.

“We will resign... Wala na kasi tayong gagawin kung magkaganun ang mangyari e kasi parang Martial Law na yan," Melo said.

Melo noted that his primary agenda in accepting the post as the new Comelec chair earlier this year was to ensure that the conduct of the 2010 elections will be modernized.

The Commission has started the preparation for the full automation of the 2010 national elections as it has been conducting a series of massive information campaign on changes in registration from manual to biometrics system as well as the use of automated counting machines.

It is looking to duplicate the success achieved by last August’s Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections, where the result was already known two days after.

Melo, however, expressed doubts whether the administration is keen on pursuing Charter change. “Do we have the time? And may plano nga ba talaga ngayon?" the Comelec chair asked.

Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle shared Melo's sentiment saying: “I don’t know if there is enough time pa. And sinabi na din ni (Executive Secretary Eduardo) Ermita na she (President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo) will step down," Tagle said.

Melo said that as far as the Comelec is concerned, they are just focused on their preparations for the 2010 elections, which is mandated under the current system.

“Para sa amin, hanggang 2010 na lang talaga siya (President Arroyo)… That is according to our current system," Melo said.

Renewed efforts to pursue constitutional amendments escalated last Tuesday after Press Secretary Jesus Dureza uttered a controversial prayer at the beginning of a Cabinet meeting.

In the said prayer, the Palace official asked for President Arroyo to “have forbearance, good health, and tolerance to lead this nation until 2010, and who knows, perhaps even beyond."

The prayer came a day after the Senate, which has been the biggest stumbling block in transforming Congress into a Constituent Assembly, changed leadership from an opposition stalwart in Sen. Manuel Villar Jr to an administration ally in Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile. gmanews.tv