My answers to questions. Since July 8, 2014 when news came out about my status in Comelec , Ive been asked these questions, and here are my answers: The President is not reappointing you. What can you say? I continue to be grateful to the President for having given me the distinct privilege of serving the Republic as Commissioner of the COMELEC. There goes another chapter of my colorful life. On to the next one. Masama ba ang loob mo sa Presidente dahil hindi ka na ni-reappoint? No. I understand him. I was thankful when he appointed me to Comelec. Now that he has decided otherwise, why should I take it against him? I have been almost 2 years in Comelec, one time one of my staff members told me, Comm, tayo na lang ang hindi maganda ang office. Wala pang masyadong reflection ng personality mo sa workplace natin. I told her, Its because we have not yet been confirmed. I feel no sense of entitlement to it. Some people think that it is because of your Sandiganbayan case that you were not reappointed. Is this true? I dont think so. Many people know that it was not an issue with the President when he first appointed me. I hope more people would know too that since February this year, we have been submitting evidences to the court and these totaled 556 documents as of the last setting on Thursday, July 24. These include official receipts from hundreds of farmers who received loan proceeds from the P25-M credit facility program that we implemented when I was Governor. The documents also pertain to farmer loan applications, kasunduan or contracts they signed as well as withdrawal slips for farm inputs provided them. So far, 19 settings were conducted for all our evidences to be marked and there will be 8 settings more until the first week of October. Your staff is still in the Comelec. How about you? My office is in the process of winding up and turning over documents and case files to the proper Comelec departments. Everything should be finished by the coming week. I keep in touch with Chairman Brillantes. Ive also been spending some time with people whose opinion greatly matter to me. It is important that they hear from me. What are your plans now? Thats too soon to answer. I can only say for now that surely I will not keep to myself the lessons Ive learned from all the experiences and opportunities Ive been blessed with. I know the Lord is sovereign and I have faith that everything will work together for good. What is your message to the public? Please lang po, magpa-biometrics kayo. Para walang sisihan. Importante talaga, maniwala kayo sa akin. Excerpts of the letter I sent to the President last Thursday, July 24,2014: “Mr. President, thank you for the opportunity that you gave me to serve as Comelec Commissioner. I would not have understood our election system and the way it is administered, as deeply as I do now, if I have not become part of the institution, and as Commissioner at that. The Comelec has always been a mystery ... to me, way back when I was a broadcaster and more so when I became a politician. No amount of interviews and/or direct engagement with Comelec people would have sufficed to understand it or even believe it. Your appointing me as Commissioner made me look at things from a privileged perspective, complete with authority to relate with senior officers as well as field personnel in all matters pertaining to the institution. Electoral reforms have always been my most important advocacy, even more than working for our Isabelino farmers welfare or preserving our part of the Sierra Madres or fighting for good governance. After having served Isabela as Governor for 6 years, I realized how so much power is exercised by people in government and therefore such should only be in the hands of those who will use it well. … May I ask that you help look into these things so that electoral reforms will be part of your legacy too: 1. The law that requires local government units to provide office space for Comelec field personnel This makes the local Comelec dependent on politicians. They cannot antagonize them. Even their provisions for utilities and additional job-order personnel are often provided by incumbent rulers/dynasties. 2. The salaries of Comelec personnel, specially those in the field, and the need for additional personnel in accordance with the number of registered voters they serve Our usual partners in election administration like teachers and policemen have enjoyed salary increases through the years. It is not the case with election officers and assistants. I have talked with many of them -from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. My sense, Mr. President, is if they had a choice, they would prefer to be not vulnerable to politicians.”
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 08:17:04 +0000
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