CA OKs appointment of COA, Comelec heads

The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday confirmed the appointments of Grace Pulido-Tan and Sixto Brillantes Jr. as heads of the Commission on Audit and the Commission on Elections, respectively. The CA made the approval even after Tan and Brillantes' nomination were opposed by two detractors in separate hearings earlier in the day. A certain Marcelo Tecson opposed the nomination of Tan because COA was not conducting pre-audits. On the other hand, former Comelec law department head Ferdinand Rafanan opposed the nomination of Brillantes because of alleged corrupt practices. However, the members of the CA committee on Constitutional commissions and offices dismissed both oppositions as unbelievable. Only Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, who had always been critical of Brillantes, abstained when the CA voted for the Comelec chief's confirmation during the plenary session. The terms of Tan and Brillantes will end on February 2, 2015. I will resign Moments after the CA approved his appointment, Brillantes said he would resign from his post if he fails to reform the Comelec within a year. "Pag hindi ko ho nareporma ang Comelec in one year's time... hindi ko na tatapusin ang term ko, magrere-sign na ho ako," Brillantes said. He made the statement after Senator Cayetano asked what assurance Brillantes can give to reform the Comelec. "What guarantee do we have for example that by December or October 2012, six months or nine months before the 2013 elections eh nalinis na as much as possible ang Comelec?" Cayetano said, adding: "Kasi ang problema hindi naman every year ang confirmation, once we give your confirmation, that's it." — LBG, GMA News