ANOTHER PROSPERO OPPOSE CONFIRMATION OF BENIPAYO,

OTHER COMELEC OFFICIALS  

           " A case of water and oil."

                This was how Davao City Congressman Prospero Nograles described the situation among warring factions at the Commission on Elections as he urged President Arroyo to withdraw the nomination of Comelec Chair Alfredo Benipayo and the other the officials who are yet to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

                Nograles' statement is resonant to the position of Rep. Prospero Pichay who earlier declared his opposition to the appointment of Benipayo together with Commissioners Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason.

                The Davao City solon said he is not personally against the confirmation of the Benipayo and two other Comelec commissioners but pointed out that the continued squabbling within the Comelec can only be settled if one of the warring factions would have to step aside.

                " The case in Comelec is like water and oil .One group can never go along well with another so the best and quickest solution for this hullabaloo is to get rid of one of the squalling groups," he said.

                He said that the President should quickly resolve the conflict at the Comelec especially now that the Barangay  and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections are drawing near.

                “ How can we expect the Comelec to focus on their mandate if they are also squabbling on the side? I think  it’s time that the President should withdraw the appointment of Benipayo and the other commissioners  who are yet to be confirmed,” Nograles said.

                He explained that it  would be difficult to remove Commissioner Luzviminda Tancangco  and the  other commissioners who are locked in a conflict with the group of Benipayo because all of them were already confirmed by the CA.

                The only way to remove them from office, Nograles said, is through  impeachment, which is a “very tedious process.”

Nograles said that  it is important for the Comelec  to have a team spirit  in order to preserve the credibility and integrity of the poll body.