Ex-Comelec chair Pardo named lead counsel for ULAP, Sigaw

Former Supreme Court associate justice Bernardo Pardo, who used to head the Commission on Elections (Comelec), has been named lead counsel of the chief proponents for constitutional amendments through a people's initiative. Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado made the announcement Monday morning at the opening of the two-day Fourth National Convention of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) at the Manila Hotel, Manila City. "The battery of lawyers of Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and Sigaw ng Bayan is headed by Justice Bernardo Pardo, who used to be chair of the Commission on Elections and who retired from the supreme court," Aumentado said. Pardo headed the poll body from 1995 until 2001. Now that he heads the legal team, Pardo is expected to lock horns Tuesday with current Comelec chair Benjamin Abalos during the oral arguments before the Supreme Court on the legality of the people's initiative petition filed by Ulap and the Sigaw ng Bayan. Abalos' Comelec denied on August 31 "due course" to the Sigaw and Ulap petition, citing the lack of an enabling law for a people's initiative. Pardo had been closely associated to the chief executives during his tenure at the poll body, namely former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada. Aumentado, who serves as ULAP national president, said their ongoing convention is meant to consolidate their members' support for a people's initiative. He told dzBB radio that they are set to come out with a manifesto of support for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. With one day to go before they face the high court, government lawyers are finalizing their arguments against opponents of the people's initiative. Solicitor General Antonio Eduardo Nachura said Monday he is not bothered by the prospect of going up against Comelec lawyers. "There have been several cases before where the Supreme Court allowed the Office of the Solicitor General to take a different stance from those of other government agencies," Nachura said in an interview on dzBB radio. He said that in arguing the case for the people's initiative, his office will fulfill its role as "tribune of the people." For the meantime, Nachura said he and other government lawyers are coordinating their actions with lawyers of Ulap. He added that they are finalizing their strategy to make the most of the 25 minutes allowed for each lawyer to give his or her argument. "There are eight issues in the advisory. There will be necessarily some overlapping in arguments ... We hope to be able to finish discussions this afternoon or tonight," he said. -GMANews.TV