Palace defends Comelec commissioner Neri's appointment amid resignation call

Malacañang on Wednesday defended the appointment of Commission on Elections Commissioner Aimee Torrefranca-Neri amid allegations that she was involved in case-fixing at the Supreme Court.

At the Palace briefing, acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar was asked about the allegations, which became the basis of Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon's call for her resignation. 

“The appointment of Comelec Commissioner Aimee Neri is a presidential prerogative. The commissioner is the personal choice of the President, having served as the President's lawyer in the gender’s office in Davao,” Andanar said.

“Duman po sa vetting process ang kanyang appointment (Her appointment went through a vetting process),” he added.

On Monday, Drilon said Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel of alleged drug lord Herbert Colangco, is expected to substantiate his allegations that his client gave then-Justice Assistant Secretary Neri P10 million to "fix" a robbery case before the SC.

“Out of P10 million, Commissioner Neri returned P7 million but kept the P3 million,” Drilon said.

“This is a public statement of the daughter of the drug lord, and second, the lawyer of the alleged drug lord, Atty. Topacio, confirmed it that there was a delivery of P10 million. And therefore, this very episode casts a very serious doubt on the integrity and capacity of Commissioner Aimee Neri to discharge her functions as Comelec commissioner,” he added.

The Commission on Appointments, which is made up of select senators and congressmen, has the power to approve or reject Neri's appointment.

Legislators are now on break due to the campaign season and will only reconvene on May 23, or after the May 9 elections. —VBL, GMA News