MANILA, Philippines - Now that he is a lawyer, former janitor Ramil Comendador can now seek a higher position at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), an official said yesterday.
Comendador also received P100,000 and a plaque of recognition from Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada yesterday.
Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said Comendador, after passing the Bar examination, should seek the election officer post.
Though he started working as janitor at the Comelec headquarters, Comendador is now serving as Malabon City election assistant.
“As an election assistant, I would like him to seek an election officer position,” Bautista said.
Comelec regulations require an election officer to have bachelor’s degree relevant to the job and a career service professional or appropriate second level eligibility.
The 35-year-old Comendador placed 914th out of the 3,747 successful 2016 bar examinees.
He visited Bautista in his office in Intramuros shortly after learning that he passed the Bar exam.
Bautista expressed hope that Comendador’s story would encourage more Filipinos to aim high.
“Ramil’s story of faith and fortitude, faith and perseverance is not only inspiring but should be emulated by all,” said Bautista.
Other Comelec officials also commended Comendador for passing the Bar exam by working as janitor then a legal researcher and election assistant of the poll body.
No accident
Estrada said he was awed by Comendador’s success story and hopes every Filipino would be inspired by him.
“Success is no accident,” he said of Comendador passing the Bar examinations. Comendador completed his law studies in the city-run Universidad de Manila.
Estrada said Comendador’s success motivated him even further to improve the city’s educational system.
More Bar passers in gov’t
Among those in government who also passed the Bar exams were Police Officer 3 David Corpuz of the National Capital Region Police Office; PO3 Aimee Sissay Cusain of the Quezon City Police District; PO3 Che Mayo Morales Guevara of the Eastern Police District; PO2 Bien Pol Panahon of the Parañaque City police and PO2 Benito Alba Jr. of the Pateros police.
The Department of the Interior and Local Governent also has nine new lawyers: Margielyn Asilo, Jeff Kevin Carbonel, Ansis Reyhan Victor Pornillos and Marybeth Ricafrente-Palattao of the DILG central office; Darwin Alminaza of DILG Region 6; and Jennifer Molvizar, Karah Jane Tamboong, Rafunzel Bero, Diana Jean Alicer-Avila of DILG Region 8.