Macalintal blasted for religious views, protecting GMA
MANILA, Philippines - Two groups on Thursday opposed the possible appointment of election lawyer Romulo Macalintal as the next chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) said Macalintal's position as a religious conservative is "dangerous" for the position of Comelec chairman.
"Atty. Macalintal may be a good election lawyer but his being a religious conservative and his intolerance to views opposing his are dangerous. We need more progressive or at the very least open-minded people in Comelec," DSWP national chairman Elizabeth Angsioco said in a statement.
She recalled an incident outside the Manila Cathedral in November 20 last year, where Macalintal and members of Prolife Philippines confronted supporters of the reproductive health bill pending in Congress. She said the lawyer's "intolerance, even arrogance" was caught on video.
She said that this early, Macalintal's bias may surface when party-list groups identified with reproductive health advocates apply for the next elections.
"The Aquino administration should be forewarned that such an attitude will likely surface if he gets appointed as Comelec chair," she added.
Poll watchdog Kontra Daya, meanwhile, said Macalintal's appointment to the position would oppose the Aquino administration's quest to investigate the alleged election fraud in 2004.
Kontra Daya's Fr. Joe Dizon said Macalintal's possible appointment does not speak well of the President and his vow to go after the corrupt and achieve closure on issues such as the ‘Hello Garci’ scandal.
Dizon said as former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's election lawyer, Macalintal consistently denied the existence of election fraud during the 2004 presidential elections.
“With Macalintal at the helm of Comelec, would you expect the poll body to cooperate in investigations on election fraud?” Dizon said.
Dizon also said that rumors that Macalintal's nomination is being pushed by the Liberal Party "raises concerns."
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Pnoy, maawa ka naman sa amin na bumuto sa iyo. .
instead of Macalintal, why don't you put LAGMAN. . .Pnoy, our country is in your hands. . . i hope its not dirty. . .
Appointing Macalintal as COMELEC Chief is an insult
I agree with the opinion of other citizens and organizations that considering Macalintal to top COMELEC post is already an insult to whole Filipino electorate, how much more appointing him to this highest post of the COMELEC?. Macalintal has hands dirty enough to handle the institution that is wanted to be cleansed and “credibility fully restored”. Macalintal, as the election lawyer of those involved or benefited in fraud in 2004 and 2007 elections cannot deny that he had no knowledge of these said fraud. Or he cannot reason that he is just doing his work as their appointed lawyer. In 2007 elections, he insisted that it was okay to count the Maguindanao votes, because there were no proofs or document of fraud, despite the fact that there were more votes than actual voters voting 100% with all slots in the ballot filled in. Again, he cannot reason that his argument was favored by the SC? But who these 7 justices who favored him? They were the ones who have big “utang na loob” from GMA like Atty. Macalintal. He may say, the case has been with the SET and the SET allows the beneficiary to remain in the Senate. Who the justices who favor the beneficiary? Same justices, part of the original 7 justices. If Macalintal will be appointed, this only means that P-Noy who was originally part of the SET and may had seen by himself how they smacked the whole Filipino nation by the massive irregularity in Maguindanao, favors shrewdness in the guise of cleverness over honesty and integrity which is part and heart of his campaign promise.
Insanity.
Why would this administration even consider this man to head Comelec? He was Gloria's protector - a woman who was accused of election fraud. This is insanity.