By MIKHA FLORES
COMMISSION on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr on Monday asked President Benigno Aquino III to immediately name the replacements for the two appointees who declined their appointment as commissioners, saying the vacancies are a taking a toll on the poll body’s early resolution of election cases.
Aquino appointed former Justice Undersecretary Macabangkit Lanto and Election Lawyer Maria Bernadette Sardillo on Thursday but both declined their appointments in the seven-member poll body.
Brillantes said that since the two declined, there must be others already lined up. “I’m sure there was a screening process.”
The five Comelec members now find themselves swamped with cases after the retirement last Feb 2 of Commissioners Rene Sarmiento and Armando Velasco, and the fact that their positions have not been filled is stalling the resolution of election cases.
