MANILA, Philippines - There are at least 50 applicants for the position vacated by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Augusto Lagman, a poll official said yesterday.
Comelec Commissioner Elias Yusoph said some of the applicants are Comelec insiders, law department director Esperanza Ladra, among them.
“There is no replacement yet but I heard there are 50 applicants…We want an insider (to replace Lagman),” Yusoph said.
President Aquino did not renew Lagman’s appointment after being bypassed by the Commission on Appointments.
An expert in information technology (IT), Lagman was backed by several poll watchdogs and civic society organizations opposed to the use of Smartmatic’s precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines in the 2013 elections.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes earlier said he recommended two individuals as possible replacement of Lagman.
Brillantes said he prefers a woman-lawyer and an IT expert to continue Lagman’s term until Feb. 2, 2018. All of Comelec’s top six officials are male.