MANILA, 11 June — President Arroyo yesterday appointed Benjamin Abalos as chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), replacing ex-Justice Alfredo Benipayo who had been bypassed seven times by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Abalos, a former judge and mayor of Mandaluyong, relinquished his post as chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as a result of his new appointment.

Commissioners Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason, who were both bypassed repeatedly by the powerful CA, were reappointed by the president.

Also reappointed were Heherson Alvarez as environment secretary and Pantaleon Alvarez as transportation secretary. Both have also been repeatedly bypassed by the CA.

The Commission composed of senators and congressmen is empowered to confirm or reject the appointment of Cabinet members and poll commissioners as well as the appointment and promotion of military and foreign service officers.

Asked why only Benipayo was not given a fresh appointment yesterday, presidential spokesman Silvestre Afable said poor performance in office was definitely not the reason.

“That’s not it. He (Benipayo) may have asked not to be reappointed,” Afable told reporters.

Benipayo’s confirmation at the CA had been blocked by four other Comelec commissioners led by Luzviminda Tancangco, who is now the subject of an impeachment complaint by numerous organizations spearheaded by the National Movement for Free Elections.

Among those who have signed the complaint, which will be lodged before the House of Representatives, are overseas Filipino groups, including those in Saudi Arabia.

Abalos is a known ally of the Arroyo administration and doubts had been cast on his capability to be fair and impartial as head of the election watchdog.

But spokesman Afable stressed that Abalos had “always shown fairness as a political leader.”

President Arroyo believes Abalos can help put an end to the infighting at the Comelec, which has hampered the poll body’s work.

Abalos told reporters that he was eager to begin working as Comelec chairman and that his mission is to stamp out cheating.

“Having been a victim of cheating twice, I want to do something to stop electoral fraud,” she said on television.

Before going into politics, Abalos served for 10 years as a judge. He had also been a prosecutor and mayor of Mandaluyong for three terms.

It was during the Marcos regime, he said, in which he lost repeatedly in his bid to run for assemblyman and mayor because he was cheated.

On the internal conflict at the Comelec, Abalos said stopping it was also his priority. Abalos’ appointment came just after the Tangcangco bloc, called the “Gang of Four” by their critics, announced that they were taking over the leadership of the poll body.

Tancangco was elected chairwoman by Commissioners Rufino Javier, Ralph Lantion and Mehol Sadain during a special en banc meeting yesterday morning.

All four commissioners were appointees of ousted President Joseph Estrada.