eCOMELEC

The COMELEC today heard the arguments of the opposing sides in the controversy over the leadership of the Liberal Party.

After admitting that a souvenir program paid for by Senator Franklin Drilon contained an accurate list of Liberal Party members, Member of the House of Representatives Harlin Abayon – speaking for the respondents led by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza – contested the listing of National Electorate Council and proposed the holding of a national convention for the purpose of electing a new set of officers.

Wilfrid D. Asis, speaking for Senator Franklin Drilon Jr., immediately opposed Abayon’s proposition, insisting that the National Electorate Council headed by Drilon was duly elected and did not need to be replaced prematurely.

COMELEC Chairman Abalos, after hearing impassioned arguments from either side, finally ordered that both Petitioners and Respondents should submit their respective memoranda within fifteen days – or on the 30th of June 2006. The case will then be considered submitted for resolution.

Reacting to reports that the Bicameral Conference Committee failed to come to an agreement on the 2006 national budget, Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin S. Abalos today warned of a looming constitutional crisis.

“Senators and Members of the House of Representatives cannot remain in office in a hold-over capacity. I don’t want to be an alarmist,” Abalos said, “but if the 2007 elections don’t push through due to a lack of funds, we will have a constitutional crisis where our Congress will be emptied of all but 12 senators.”

The failure of the Bicameral Conference Committee, composed of members of the Senate and the Lower House, to pass the 2006 budget has raised the specter of a re-enacted budget which, according to Abalos, “would have no provisions for the conduct of national and local elections.”

The COMELEC has proposed a P3.280 billion budget for 2006, which includes both the operational budget of the COMELEC and the budget for preparatory activities needed for the succesful conduct of the 2007 elections. While this budget has already passed muster with the Senate, it has yet to be approved by the Bicameral Conference Committee.

“We are appealing to our legislators to enact the 2006 budget as soon as possible,” Abalos pleaded, noting that the COMELEC needs to begin procuring much needed equipment and supplies for next year’s polls by July this year. “We have begun preparations for the 2007 elections, but some preparatory activities require the procurement of equipment and supplies. We need to bid these out, and the procurement process can take some time.”