MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Wednesday admitted that it is taking the government a long time to fill certain positions in government that have recently been vacated.
“We’re certainly aware of the deadline,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said of the vacant positions in the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Commission on Audit (COA).
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
Earlier in the month, Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes Jr., Commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph retired. COA chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan also retired after completing her term on February 2. They have yet to be replaced. Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Etta Rosales, on the other hand, is due for retirement in May 2015.
The said positions are crucial because of the nearing 2016 elections and the ongoing campaign to promote good governance.
“What we’re telling you is that we’re looking for the right people and so it will… It certainly will take time to find the right people who just vacated these important positions,” Lacierda said.
The said agencies are independent constitutional commissions that enjoy fiscal autonomy.
The Secretary appealed to the public for more “patience.”
“The work of these independent commissions are not stopped by reason of the non-appointment of their chairmen,” he said.
Lacierda, however, admitted that they are looking for persons who will be able to “lead the commissions in a manner that have been left behind by those who led them previously.”
Tan, who was among those declared as Filipino of the Year by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, was described by Lacierda as someone with a “very sterling reputation.”
He said they want someone with the “same level of integrity and reputation.”
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