Palace confirms Aquino won’t reappoint Lagman to Comelec

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III won’t  reappoint Augusto “Gus” Lagman to the Commission on Elections, Malacañang said on Wednesday.

Ricky Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, said the administration received word from House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II that Lagman would  be rejected if he were to go through the Commission on Appointments again.

Carandang said Lagman agreed with the government position to forego a reappointment so as not to let him go through the “painful” confirmation process “only to again be rejected.”