Comelec adopts new policy to fill vacancies

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has adopted a new policy to fill vacancies resulting from the retirement of two commissioners.

In a resolution, the Comelec allowed Chairman Sixto Brillantes to designate a commissioner who will serve as acting member of one division.

“A permanent vacancy in the ranks of the commissioners in a particular division shall be filled by the chairman by designating a commissioner from the other division in an acting capacity… in addition to his duties as regular member of his current division,” the resolution said.

In the past, the most senior commissioner from the other division automatically fills the vacancy.

The poll body also ordered a reshuffle of the first and second divisions.

From the Second Division, Commissioner Lucenito Tagle will now serve as presiding commissioner of the First Division with Commissioner Christian Robert Lim as member.

Commissioner Elias Yusoph, on the other hand, has been designated as presiding commissioner of the Second Division with Commissioner Grace Padaca as member.

There are currently only five commissioners after the recent retirement of commissioners Rene Sarmiento and Armando Velasco.

Sarmiento and Velasco were both members of the First Division prior to their retirement after completing their seven-year terms.

Under existing Comelec rules, each division shall be composed of three commissioners with the most senior to be designated as presiding commissioner of the First Division, while the second most senior is the presiding commissioner of the Second Division.

Brillantes has asked President Aquino to appoint the two new commissioners in order to help in the preparations for the May 13 midterm elections.