De Lima, Brillantes among contenders for top Comelec post

MANILA, Philippines - Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and election lawyer Sixto Brillantes are being floated as possible replacement for Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo who is set to resign in Jan. 31, 2010.

Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said he also heard Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura’s name being considered as a possible replacement.

“But Justice Nachura will retire in June so there would be a long gap just in case. There are many names being floated,” Tagle said in an interview.

Melo, 78, tendered his resignation last Monday, claiming to have succeeded in his mission at the Comelec – a successful automated election that produced a president whose victory was beyond doubt.

The poll chief said he wanted to spend more time with his grandchildren and to play more golf.

De Lima was an election lawyer before former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed her to the Commission on Human Rights, and President Aquino appointed her to the Department of Justice in June.

Brillantes, on the other hand, handled the Liberal Party and Aquino during the May 10 local and national elections.

The one who will take over Melo’s post will continue his unfinished seven-year term until February 2015, and be in charge of the 2013 midterm elections.

Melo replaced former Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos who resigned in October 2007 in the middle of the $329-million national broadband project controversy. The latter allegedly offered bribes to have the project with China’s ZTE Corp. approved.

Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, on the other hand, said senior poll officials may apply to replace him and Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal as they are scheduled to retire on Feb. 2, 2011.

“Many of the directors here apply (if there are vacancies). You will not be appointed unless you applied,” Ferrer said.