BEHIND THE SCENES

ALFRED P. DIZON

If there is anybody more deserving as chairman of the Commission on Elections, it is commissioner Romeo A. Brawner, a native of Ifugao who practiced law in Bontoc, Mountain Province, later in Baguio, then rose as a legal luminary known for his exemplary character
untainted with graft.

He still drives his old trusty beetle (Volkswagen) and is as humble as ever but strict when it comes to law. According to a story which went around Luisas restaurant along Session Road in Baguio, the commissioner was stopped by a mulcting policeman along Abanao Road for an imaginary traffic violation.

Brawner didn’t identify himself and asked the policeman what his violation was. Apay di ka makaawawat (Don’t you understand?) the cop, insinuating lunch money, reportedly shouted at him. Fortunately, a man driving a car who stopped during the red light and recognized the commissioner shouted at the policeman: “Apay dim amammu lalaawam? Ni Commissioner Brawner dayta. (Don’t you know who you are shouting at? That is Commissioner Brawner!) The policeman sheepishly mumbled sorry to Brawner who seriously shook his head, then drove away his car. Some weeks, later, the man was reportedly detailed to a rural area.
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This story is told because President Macapagal-Arroyo is now being pressured by some quarters with vested interests to appoint people to the Comelec with dubious characters. A new chairman and two more commissioners should be appointed after Congress reconvenes on Jan. 28 from a month-long Christmas recess so the appointees could be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments before they assume their posts.

Prominent lawyers and leaders of nongovernment organizations have aired statements saying the President should be accorded as much time as possible in issuing the appointments so she could select the best and most qualified and non-controversial aspirants.

They said there is nothing to worry about if it takes time for the President to pick the best people for the three posts. Well, unless some people who are out of sync with the times like Trillianes et. al. mount another soap opera the form of a coup.

According to the lawyers and organizations, the Comelec could still perform administrative and quasi-judicial functions even after the retirement of Acting Chairman Resurrection Z. Borra and Commissioner Florentino A. Tuason Jr. on Feb. 2.

Their argument is the four remaining Commissioners – Rene V. Sarmiento, Nicodemo T. Ferrer, Moslemen Macarambon and Brawner – still constitute a quorum en banc or in two divisions. Since Brawner will be the most senior commissioner after Feb. 2, he will be chosen by his colleagues as Acting Comelec Chairman. His presence, along with the three remaining commissioners, the lawyers say, will constitute a quorum when the Comelec sits en banc.

Brawner will also be the presiding commissioner of the first division while Sarmiento, who will be the second most senior commissioner after Feb. 2, will be the presiding commissioner of the second division.

According to the groups pushing for an extension of time in appointing the commissioners – with an acting chairman and three commissioners, the Comelec could even expedite the resolution of elections cases or disputes, push through election reform programs and take necessary measures in restoring confidence of the people in the electoral process which is at an all time low.

Based on their records before their appointments to the Comelec, Brawner, Sarmiento, Ferrer and Macarambon are sticklers for expeditious resolution of disputes and have impeccable records of public service.

Brawner was presiding justice of the Court of Appeals, while Sarmiento was a member of the government peace panel before their appointment to the Comelec. Ferrer was a former regional trial court judge and justice of the Sandiganbayan while Macarambon was an RTC judge in Mindanao. According to groups pressing for time extension to appoint Comelec officials, if the new appointees would first be confirmed by the CA before they assume their posts, maybe, it would lend a semblance of stability to the Comelec as guardian of election laws. If Brawner would be appointed as Comelec chairman, there is a good chance this country’s electoral system would improve.
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It’s never too early to talk about the 2010 polls and presidential aspirants. This is the view of Bishop Efraim Tendero, the national director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches. The good bishop says people who are planning to run in the 2010 national elections should make known their intentions as early as now so the people can evaluate them already.

He said by knowing who will run for public office in 2010, the people would be able to evaluate the candidates better and the media can also scrutinize them and their platforms of government. Maybe, the media (ala Peninsula siege mirons) won’t be jailed this time for airing negative reports about candidates who deserve to be maligned for kapal muks. So okay now, sumanau tayon iti pulitika.
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On the way to 2010, Malacanang downplayed plots to overthrow the government in the immediate future while AFP spokesperson Lt. Col. maintains threats of destabilization against the Arroyo administration are real. The AFP spokesman said these “developments’ include the possible collusion between the left and right forces that would possibly lead to a power grab against the administration. Oh well, which is which, we leave that to my favorite barber to explain.