Press Release
November 4, 2007

PIMENTEL CALLS FOR SCRUTINY FOR MACARAMBON'S BACKGROUND

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today called for a scrutiny of the background of newly-appointed Commission on Elections Commissioner Moslemen Macarambon in view of apprehensions over his ability to discharge his duties with independence and impartiality.

Pimentel said that although he is willing to give Macarambon the benefit of the doubt the allegation of Sen. Panfilo Lacson that he was named to the Comelec post through Garcillano's backing should be looked into.

"Anyway, I do not know Macarambon personally. If you talk of legal qualifications, he may be fully qualified," the minority leader said.

"Ping Lacson's observation, however, about his being a prot�g� of Garcillano deserves scrutiny. I support it as a way of searching for the truth."

Pimentel also reiterated that nominees of the opposition should be given a chance to sit in the Comelec to erase the impression that the poll body is under the thumb of Malacañang and to restore its credibility.

"It would be better if Gloria asked the opposition to nominate their choices for the Comelec. That's what I thought she should do."

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