PNoy: Ex-Arroyo poll lawyer among those eyed as Comelec chair

(Updated 1:09 p.m.) Romulo Macalintal, who once served as former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's election lawyer, is among those being eyed to replace Jose Melo as chairman of the Commission on Elections, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III said Wednesday. Aquino confirmed that he has interviewed Macalintal as well as his own election lawyer — Sixto Brillantes — for the post to be vacated by Melo at the end of the month. "[I] interviewed both of them," Aquino said in a text message to GMANews.TV. "I have only been conducting interviews. So far those have been the only ones interviewed. I have also been meeting and/or reading recommendations from various groups," he added in a separate text message. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte confirmed that she saw both Macalintal and Brillantes at the Premiere Guesthouse, which serves as Aquino's office in Malacañang, last Monday. "I saw him [Macalintal] there but beyond that, I'm not privy to the discussions that he had with the president," Valte said. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Macalintal and Brillantes were interviewed separately, with Macalintal going first. Both Brillantes and Macalintal are veteran election lawyers. Macalintal was the lawyer of Mrs. Arroyo until early May last year. He resigned after Mrs. Arroyo did not support his call for the postponement of the May 10, 2010 elections. Macalintal also served as Aquino's lawyer when Aquino first ran for congressman of Tarlac's second district. Aquino served as congressman for three terms, from 1998 to 2007. Brillantes, on the other hand, served as Aquino's legal counsel in the last presidential elections. On behalf of Aquino, Brillantes sought the disqualification of Vetellano Acosta, whose name would have been printed before Aquino's on the ballot, from the presidential race. Melo's seven-year term was supposed to end in 2015, but he tendered his resignation, effective Jan. 31, 2011, last November because he wanted to "move on" after successfully leading the country's first nationwide automated elections. Aside from Melo, Aquino has to find a replacement for two Comelec commissioners — Nicodemo Ferrer and Gregorio Larrazabal — whose terms are set to expire in February. — RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV