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Aquino hints he wants Melo to stay in govt but...


BAGUIO CITY — President Benigno Aquino III hinted Friday that he may ask outgoing Commission on Elections chairman Jose Melo to accept a government position after the latter's resignation takes effect in January next year. Aquino, however, noted that Melo — who has been in government for 48 years — did not appear to be enthusiastic about the idea of accepting another government post after his resignation. "Nung minungkahi niya sa akin [that he will leave the Comelec] I think twice pa eh, ay parang may pagka-pagod na raw siya. So mahirap naman sabihing pwede bang isa pang hirit (When he told me [that he will leave the Comelec] I think twice, he said he was tired already. So it's hard to ask him to stay for one more job)," said Aquino. "I have to ask him ‘di ba? He is not exactly that young," he said. Melo's seven-year term was supposed to end in 2015. Early this week, however, it was confirmed that he will quit his post effective Jan. 31, 2011. (See: Melo quits post as Comelec chairman effective Jan. 2011) Melo himself had earlier expressed that he is not keen on accepting a full-time government post after his resignation because he plans to spend more time with his family.
Aquino said he is already looking for people to replace Melo and two other commissioners, Nicodemo Ferrer and Gregorio Larrazabal, whose terms are set to end in February 2011. While he did not give names, Aquino said he is initially searching for Melo's replacement outside the commission, meaning he is considering those who are not incumbent Comelec commissioners. "Hinahanap natin siyempre yung magaling, energetic and at the same time yung pwedeng tignan ng lahat ng partido sa Pilipinas na pwedeng maging professional, na neutral (Of course we are looking for someone [who is] competent, energetic, and at the same time someone that all political parties in the Philippines can view as professional and neutral)," Aquino said. Melo was appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Comelec chairman in 2008. Prior to his stint at the Comelec, Melo served as associate justice of the Supreme Court from 1992 to 2002. In 2006, he was appointed by Mrs. Arroyo to head a body to probe the various cases of extrajudicial and political killings in the country, which targeted mostly militant activists and members of the media. The investigating body, known as the Melo Commission, concluded that most of the killings can be attributed to the military. — RSJ, GMANews.TV
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