Padaca to be transferred to DILG?

MANILA, Philippines - Will Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Grace Padaca be given a new post at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)?

Palace sources said Padaca may no longer be reappointed to the poll body, but there are reports the former Isabela governor may be transferred to the DILG as undersecretary.

President Aquino has not reissued Padaca’s ad interim appointment after the Commission on Appointments bypassed her when it adjourned on June 14.

Sources claimed Padaca’s problems stemmed from her failure to file her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for three years when she was governor of Isabela.

Padaca also has pending cases before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the award of a P25-million rice enhancement program to a non-government organization without public bidding when she was provincial governor.

When sought for comment, Padaca in a text message to The STAR said “in due time.”

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the poll body has not received any advice or notification if Padaca will be replaced and who will be the new appointee.

“They (Malacañang) are not required to advise us of their plans. We just wait whom they are going to appoint. We just go on with our work,” he said.

He added that there is no urgency for the President to appoint a new Comelec commissioner.

“Our minimum is four members to have a quorum. With six current members, we are more than okay, so there is no urgency yet for an appointment of a seventh member,” he said.

He said the appointment of a new commissioner could wait until the poll body starts its full preparation for the 2016 elections.

“Probably, we will need a seventh member only when we need a tie breaker in coming up with decisions that are with 3-3 votes,” said Brillantes. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Charlie Lagasca, Raymund Catindig