DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A former Lanao del Sur congressman and a female election lawyer are the newest members of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
President Aquino yesterday announced the appointment of lawyers Maria Bernadette Sardillo and Macabangkit Lanto, a Muslim, filling the remaining vacancies in the seven-member poll body.
The Comelec welcomed the new appointments, saying with the bench now complete, it could go full blast with its preparations for the May 13 elections.
Aquino announced the appointments shortly after he addressed participants to the Meetings Incentive Conventions Events/Exhibits Conference 2013 at the SM Lanang Premier mall here.
He said from an initial eight to 10 nominees, he managed to trim the list to three whom he interviewed and screened personally, until he decided on the final two.
Aquino said he had sent the appointments to Congress for confirmation.
Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes welcomed the new commissioners, although he said he recommended to the President that at least one of them should be Comelec insiders.
“He is the President and that is his prerogative. He has the right to appoint so that’s okay with me. At least I know both of the appointees,†Brillantes said.
Lanto was a former congressman of Lanao del Sur and ambassador to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
“He has proven his worth in trying to perform his functions well. He has a good track record,†the President said of Lanto.
As for Sardillo, a former lawyer for Lakas-Kampi-CMD, Aquino said she had shown firm resolve in defending the rights of the citizenry in several election contests.
Brillantes said he does not have any complaint over the appointment of Sardillo – whom he referred to as “Beng†– as she is an election lawyer.
He said Lanto’s experience in government would be helpful in the Comelec. This is the first time for the Comelec to have two Muslim commissioners.
Lanto was congressman of the second district of Lanao del Sur from 1992 to 1994, and chaired the committee on Muslim affairs. He was principal author of Republic Act 7647, which called for the election of regional officers for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. He also served as undersecretary for the Department of Justice (2004 to 2007) and Department of Tourism (1996 to 1998), and ambassador to Egypt and Sudan (1998 to 2001).
Lanto and Sardillo will fill the two positions in the poll body, which have been vacant since last year following the retirement of commissioners Rene Sarmiento and Armando Velasco.
Sardillo is a graduate of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. She has been practicing election law since 2007, and is a partner in the Mago Sardillo Aguilar and Litonjua Law Office.
She became a lawyer for the Lakas-Kampi-CMD in the 2010 elections and for former Supreme Court associate justice Dante Tinga, who filed an electoral protest against incumbent Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano. The case is still pending with the Comelec.
Brillantes said he could not yet ascertain the assignment that would be given to the two new commissioners.
“The senior one goes to the First Division, while the junior goes to the Second Division,†he said.
The administration coalition Team PNoy also welcomed Aquino’s move, describing it as “a step forward in ensuring a clean and fair elections in May.â€
Team PNoy spokesman and Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo said the new appointees would complete the Comelec’s membership, particularly during this critical period.
“We hope that their addition will now afford the Comelec enough manpower to carry out pending reforms to make the elections orderly, peaceful and credible,†Quimbo said.
In a press statement, Lanto vowed to “uphold the impartiality, independence, and integrity†of the Comelec as his appointment was consistent with his “long-standing advocacy for pursuing electoral reforms.â€
Sardillo refused to comment on her appointment, saying she has yet to receive her appointment papers.
– With Delon Porcalla, Paolo Romero, Marvin Sy, Edith Regalado