Rafanan endorsed for Comelec post

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has been endorsed to fill one of two vacancies for commissioner following the retirement of Rene Sarmiento and Armando Velasco last Feb. 2.

Comelec Employees Union president Mac Ramirez said they have chosen to support lawyer Ferdinand Rafanan, Planning Department head, because he could push for the protection and welfare of the rank-and-file workers.

“He was fully supportive of the employees’ fight for a substantial increase in our wages and benefits,” he said.

The Comelec labor union had also nominated lawyer Alexander Pilotin, election officer at Santiago City, Isabela.

Rafanan said he sent an application letter to President Aquino last Jan. 25.

“You want genuine reforms in Comelec, Mr. President, so I know I qualify under your transformational presidency of the Philippines and the pragmatic chairmanship of Sixto Brillantes in the Comelec,” read the letter.

He had applied for Comelec commissioner twice before, he added.

Rafanan has been with the Comelec since 1998. He became director of the Law Department and chairman of the Special Bids and Awards Committee during the bidding for the automated election system in the 2010 polls.

At present, Rafanan is the lead prosecutor in the electoral sabotage case filed against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former elections chairman Benjamin Abalos and others at the Pasay City Regional Trial Court.