Melo to quit if no polls in 2010

MANILA, Philippines—Jose Melo declared Thursday he will resign from the Commission on Elections if the Constitution is amended to postpone the 2010 presidential elections and the situation turns into something resembling martial law.

Melo, in an interview with the media, said there would be no need for the commission if moves to amend the Constitution and stop 2010 elections are successful.

Talk that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will not step down after her term expires in 2010 resurfaced after Press Secretary Jesus Dureza prayed for Arroyo to “have forbearance, good health, and tolerance to lead this nation until 2010, and who knows, perhaps even beyond..." at the start of a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Critics of the Arroyo administration fear that Charter change would give her and her allies the opportunity to amend provisions so she can stay on in power as prime minister in a new parliamentary set-up after her term ends.

Term extension is a “non-issue,” the Comelec chairman said. “For us, [the President's term] ends in 2010. That is according to our current system.”

When pressed by the media to comment on the possibility that there will be no elections in 2010, Melo said, "Then we will resign. We won't have anything to do because that would be like martial law.”

Despite talk that administration allies were resurrecting Charter change movement, Melo and other Comelec officials said they were confident that the 2010 presidential elections, their main preoccupation these days, will push through.

The Comelec is in the middle of organizing the 2010 presidential and national elections, where they expect around 40 million voters to elect a new batch of leaders using computerized voting machines.

The Comelec is currently studying options for automated voting systems. The poll body said automating elections would mean less cheating and faster results.

Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said advocates of Charter change would not have enough time for the bill to become a law. They would also have to gather public support for it, he said.

“We are busy preparing for the 2010 elections. Nothing can stop that,” Tagle said.

“I don't know if that can still change the Charter. They only have less than two years to do it,” he added.

If Charter change advocates call for a plebiscite, Tagle said the Comelec has no funds for a national-level vote.

“There is no budget for it. Congress should appropriate,” he explained.

He noted that the commission already has issued a resolution this week suspending all action on recall election petitions due to lack of funds.

The Comelec said the budget for recall elections currently stands at P5 million. inquirer.net

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