Fariñas eyed for Comelec top post

LAOAG CITY—Ilocos Norte 1st district Representative Rodolfo C. Fariñas is being groomed to fill in the vacated top post at the Commission on Elections following the recent mandatory retirement of poll chair Sixto Brillantes.

Fariñas said that it is a welcome opportunity for him, but he is not expecting so much since it is still Pres. Benigno Aquino III who will have the final say in the appointment of the COMELEC chair.

If appointed, he said that he shall automatically resign from his post as Congressman and the vacancy shall be filled up through a special election.

Fariñas said the President should appoint now the new Comelec chair since the national election will be held next year.

Amid this development, the Ilocano solon remains busy attending to the various committees in the House of Representatives.

Report said  that many of his colleagues at the House have been lobbying to the President to name him (Fariñas) for the poll seat.

It was learned that other candidates being groomed for the post were Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chair Winston Gines and Joey Peñafrancia. (Theo S.Guiang)