MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) employees on Tuesday called on President Benigno Aquino III to appoint "insiders" in the poll body to replace two Commissioners whose terms would be expiring next month.
The Comelec Employees Union said the two Commissioners, whose terms ends on February, must be replaced by employees from the Comelec.
"As much as possible, we want the President to appoint Commissioners that came from the ranks," Mac Ramirez, Comelec Employees Union national president, said.
Next month, Commissioners Rene Sarmiento and Armando Velasco’s terms are set to expire, leaving two vacant posts.
"We want those who know by heart the real situation on the ground, those who are sensitive to our plight, and those who will actively work to alleviate the condition of the Comelec rank and file workers. This is why we want insiders to occupy the vacant Comelec Commissioner slots," Ramirez said.
He insisted that instead of looking for appointees from outside the commission, Aquino should look at the records of the poll body's roster of directors and field officials who are qualified for the job.
Ramirez, however, pointed out that their group would only support those who will commit to forward the interests of the almost 6,000 Comelec rank and file employees.
Among the concerns of the rank and file personnel is the a substantial increase in their wages.