MANILA, Philippines – Employees of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) pushed for the appointment of insiders following the retirement of chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr and two commissioners in February 2015, or 15 months before the 2016 national elections.

In response, the government said that the “best possible candidates” would be considered to fill the 3 vacancies in the 7-member collegial body.

In a statement, the Comelec Employees’ Union said that appointing insiders who know the inner workings of the poll body and the electoral processes, in the midst of its preparations for the 2016 polls, “will certainly benefit the nation as a whole.”

“Let it be known that there is no shortage of qualified officials from within the ranks,” the union said.

In addition, the Comelec-EU believes that insiders, who have devoted the best years of their lives to the poll body, “have more heart” for the employees and are most sensitive to their plights and needs.

Brillantes and commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph will be retiring on February 2, 2015. In anticipation of the vacancies, Comelec in late 2013 had formed a steering committee, which includes the remaining commissioners, to spearhead the preparations for the upcoming polls.

On Saturday, November 22, Malacañang said that it is aware of the circumstances regarding the upcoming appointments.

“The President always takes into consideration the best possible candidates for any vacancy in government,” said Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte in an interview with state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

“We are cognizant of the call to appoint an insider. But of course, as always, the President considers the best interests of the agency and the people when it comes to the appointment,” Valte added. – Rappler.com