Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista
should take a leave of absence—or even quit- COMELEC commissioners.
In a statement, Comelec Commissioners Robert Lim, Al
Parreño, Luie Tito Guia, Arthur Lim, Ma. Rowena Guanzon and Sheriff Abas said
Bautista “can no longer effectively lead the commission,” in the light of
recent “collateral issues” hounding him, including an endorsed impeachment case
before Congress and allegations of ill-gotten wealth hurled by his estranged
wife Patricia Cruz.
“In our view, while due process of law will take its normal
course, Chair Bautista’s defense will not be spirited but arduous, to say the
least. He will need to devote all his time, energy and effort,” the statement
read.
 |
| 'Magkakasama kami kanina. Wala namang sinasabi sa aking magpapa-press con. Hindi man lang ako binusinahan,Chairman told Rappler in a phone interview regarding hid fellow COMELEC executives urging him to take a leave or resign. (photo credit to owner) |
Chairman Bautista brushed the statement and said the
commissioners’ proposal ““are options that I have been considering and praying
over. When I decide, they will be the first to know.”
Bautista has no prior knowledge of the intention of the
commissioners’ coming up with a statement moreso issuing it in a press
conference.
“The grounds cited in the impeachment
complaint as well as the accusations that have been hurled between the spouses
are utterly serious and partake of serious possible criminal liability,” the
commissioners’ statement read.
They stressed they were not pressuring
Bautista to take a leave or resign, as any decision is ultimately his alone.
Lim, said the absence of the Comelec
chair in the budget hearing in the House of Representatives was the final straw
for him, Comelec was threatened with a P1 budget for 2018.
Lim said that he understands Bautista’s
putting his family first over work but lamented Comelec as an institution are
taking all the blows.
“Walang
(Nothing) personal. Iniisip lang naming ang kapakanan ng Comelec, mga contrata
at paghahanda ng lahat ng bagay na dapat tutukan ng chairman (What’s best for
Comelec is what we have in mind – the contracts and all the preparations the
chairman should focus on), not weighed down by the magnitude of the problems he
is facing,” Lim added.*
For Commissioner Guanzon, It is best for
him and the Comelec to resign so that he can (prepare) fully for his defense.
Besides, since the first day I advised him to file a leave, he failed to attend
two en banc meetings and the budget hearing. He cannot and does not give a
hundred percent,” she added.
If
the chairman so decides to resign or take a leave of absence, the remaining
commissioners via a majority vote would have to choose among themselves and
designate a new chairman .
“With
or without the chairman, the commission will continue to function and operate.
Work as usual,” Lim said.
“Advantage
lang pag nawala si chairman, either resign or leave, wala na kaming tinatanaw
na multo sa kanto na dapat isipin at pagkaabalahan. Concentration na lang ay
trabaho (The advantage of not having the chairman anymore if he resigns or
takes a leave is that we don’t have to be wary of a ghost at the corner. We can
concentrate on the job),” Arthur Lim said.
But more importantly by sacrificing
himself either by resigning or taking leave, the integrity of the 2016 election
will not be put into question, Commissioner Lim explained. *
Reports form philstar
0 comments