“Sa mga gustong magpe-pressure at makiusap, ‘wag na po ninyo i-try. Baka sa halip na magkaibigan po tayo eh magkasamaan pa po tayo ng loob.”
Thus said Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair George Garcia, as he dissuaded those who may be planning to pressure him or ask favors in connection with his current position as head of the country’s poll body from attempting at it.
Speaking at the ‘MACHRA’s Balitaan sa Harbor View’ forum held by the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA), Garcia said that he did not ask for his position and has even sacrificed a lot for the sake of providing the best public service from his end.
“Gaya ng sinasabi ko lagi, kung pera-pera ang usapan, ‘wag nyo nang i-try dahil mas malaki naman siguro ang sinakripisyo ko kesa sa puwesto ko sa kasalukuyan…wala naman po akong kailangan pa, wala na akong hihilingin pa. Sino ba naman ang mag-aakala, pakalat-kalat lang akong election lawyer biglang naging chairman ng Comelec di ho ba?”
“So sa akin natural lang yun me makikiusap me magpe-pressue sa palagay nyo ba wala akong natatanggap na pressure sa kasalukiyan o mga pakiusap pero lagi sinasabi ko is basta kung ano na lang yung tama yun na lang po ang aking gagawin,” he said.
Garcia also pointed out that he is not the Comelec alone, as the Commission is a collegial body, adding that while he may be its head, he works with an en banc component too.
The Comelec chair cited the importance of the public’s trust and belief in the poll body.
“Napaka-importante po kasing paniwalaan ng tao ang Commission on Elections. Naibalik na po namin ang tiwala ng mga tao sa Comelec, hinding-hindi na po natin ‘yan pababayaan pamg mawala,” he assured.
Garcia added: “Maganda pong ma-maintain natin ‘yung magandang relasyon kung kakilala ko na kayo, hanggang sa matapos kami sa termino dahil it’s to the best advantage po ninyo na matapat at maayos ang Commission on Elections para po nang sa ganoon,magiging maayos din ang demokrasya sa ating bansa.”
