Brillantes wants an insider to be the next Comelec commissioner

Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes is hoping for an insider to be appointed the next commissioner.

 

Brillantes said having the new poll official from Comelec itself will mean he or she need not adjust to the demands of the new job at the commission.

 

In a radio interview, Brillantes said. “You don’t need to teach them that much since they already have an idea how we work here.” 

 

Brillantes revealed he is supporting the nomination of Atty. Ferdinand Rafanan to the commissioner post.

 

Rafanan, nominated by the Comelec Employees’ Union (EU), is currently the Planning Department Director of Comelec.

 

“Director Rafanan is really qualified since he is a Director IV. I am pushing at least for a senior staff member of the commission and Director Rafanan is a Director IV, which is a senior staff position,” Brillantes said.

 

Another Comelec insider nominated for the post by the Comelec EU is Atty. Alexander Pilotin, election officer of Santiago City, Isabela.

 

Two seats in the commission are left vacant after two new appointees declined their posts.

 

Citing a family member's health concerns, Atty. Maria Bernadette Sardillo withdrew her application, Malacañang said Saturday. 

 

On Monday, former Lanao del Norte Rep. Macabangkit Lanto sent a letter to President Benigno Aquino III conveying his "deep regret" in declining the appointment, said radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo. 

 

Lanto was also quoted by the dzBB report as saying in his letter that he decided to decline the appointment after consultation with his family. 

 

Sardillo and Lanto were appointed by Aquino on March 7 to replace retired poll body Commissioners Rene Sarmiento and Armando Velasco.  —KG/RSJ, GMA News