Macarambon, no Davide recommendee

AS it turns out, newly appointed election commissioner Moslemen Macarambon was not even a recommendee of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., contrary to Malacañang’s earlier pronouncements. This also goes against Macarambon’s belief that Davide’s “endorsement” helped him clinch his appointment to the Commission on Elections.

Davide, now Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York, we were told, would not want to comment on the issue. But in a conversation with Christian Monsod, former Comelec chair during the Aquino administration, who is currently in New York, the former chief justice and erstwhile presidential adviser on electoral reform, denied nominating Macarambon to the position.

Monsod relayed to us the message below:

Ambassador and former Chief Justice (Hilario) Davide said that Judge Macarambon was not among those he recommended to the President in his report last year, like now Commissioner Rene Sarmiento and former Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Lilia Bautista. He did mention the names of those who were applying or were recommended by others and that list included the name of Judge Macarambon.

I don’t know Judge Macarambon myself and cannot comment on whether or not he is deserving. But Malacañang should be fortright about who recommended him to avoid speculations, and in fairness to him as well.

A more transparent and public process would help rebuild the credibility of the Comelec, especially for (the) next three appointees, including the next Chairman, by February next year.