2 Comelec commissioners retiring today

MANILA, Philippines - Two commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) retire today, leaving the agency with two vacancies three months before the May 13 midterm polls.

Commissioner Rene Sarmiento completed his full seven-year term while Commissioner Armando Velasco finished the five-year uncompleted term of former commissioner Moslemen Macarambon who was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments.

President Aquino is not expected to immediately appoint their replacements because Congress is still in session and new officials will have to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said. 

To make sure that no disruption in poll preparations would result from their retirement, the two officials may be tapped as consultants, according to Brillantes.

Sarmiento was with the peace panel negotiating with the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front when he was appointed to the Comelec in April 2006.

Velasco was not new to Comelec when he was appointed commissioner in November 2008, having been city election officer in Baguio City.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez admitted that with the two officials stepping down without immediate replacements, the remaining commissioners would have to take their workloads.

“Of course we are worried. Like (today) we will be having mock elections and we are short of two commissioners,” he said on the sidelines of the retirement ceremony organized by the Comelec for the two officials.

Jimenez said the impact of the retirement would be heaviest on the First Division to which Sarmiento and Velasco belonged.

“We have to double up with the other commissioners. It will do for now but later on, their replacements must be named. We expect that Malacañang understands the urgency of the situation and they will act accordingly,” Jimenez added.

Asked about their possible replacements, Sarmiento said he has been hearing about former Lanao del Norte Rep. Macabangkit Lanto, Legal Network for Truthful Elections executive director Louie Guia, and lawyer Angelina Santiago, daughter of a former justice and retired judge.