A retired high-ranking judge has been appointed as Philippines' new chairman of the Commission on Elections to replace the former head who stepped down amid bidding scandals.
Quoting a presidential spokesman, local television network ABS-CBN News reported Saturday that Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has confirmed the appointment of Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Melo.
The formal announcement will probably be made after Arroyo returns from a seven-day trip to Europe and the Middle East, the report said.
Melo would fill in the blank of Benjamin Abalos Sr., who resigned in October 2007 over allegations accusing him to profit from brokering a government network deal.
Abalos left the post one year and a half before his term terminates.
However, the appointment of Melo drew vocal protest from the opposition, who said naming a man in Arroyo camp to lead the election commission would only destroy the commission's credibility as an unbiased and independent agency.
Source: Xinhua
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