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Brillantes asked to reconsider resignation plan
Brillantes asked to reconsider resignation plan
By Catherine S Valente/Manila Times
President Benigno Aquino yesterday asked Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr to reconsider his resignation plan, saying that the country needs him during the crucial election period. |
In an interview, the president said that it is not a good time for Brillantes to quit his post with less than a month to go before the midterm elections.
Brillantes earlier revealed that he might resign even before the May 13, 2013 elections, saying it will not affect the poll body’s preparations. However, Aquino said Brillantes should remain as Comelec head, saying that he is on top of most of the major preparations for this election season.
“I will make an appeal to our chairman. It is less than a month before the elections. It is difficult to appoint a new chairman at that last point,” he said.
“And I think he will see that the country needs him to chair the Comelec at this crucial period,” he added.
The president said that he is ready to meet with Brillantes to discuss work-related issues.
Aquino said that maybe a “spur of the moment feeling” at the time that Brillantes was most frustrated caused the Comelec chief to openly talk about resigning. “I’m at his disposal. When he feels that he’s ready to meet with me, I’m always ready to meet with him,” the chief executive added.
Meanwhile, the president defended his appointment of lawyers Luie Guia and Al Parreno as new Comelec commissioners.