MANILA, Philippines - Veteran information technology (IT) expert Augusto C. Lagman has been appointed new commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to help ensure smooth automated elections in the near
future, Malacañang announced Wednesday.
President Aquino has chosen Lagman, a certified computing professional, to assume the seat vacated by Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer who retired early this year.
Lagman, whose appointment paper was signed last April 20, will serve the Comelec until February 2, 2018, according to Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte.
Prior to his appointment, Lagman served as chairman of Vinta Systems, Inc. and a director of STI College and Biometrix Technologies, Inc.
"He is a known expert in the field of IT and he has been very involved in the automated elections. We know that he has spoken out on so many issues relating to the automated elections. We are confident that he can discharge the duties of his office as capably and competently as he has in the past," Valte said.
Valte explained that Lagman was chosen by the President due to his competence in the IT sector. She said the President had always wanted an IT expert to be part of the poll body to avoid the errors committed in the last May automated elections.
Asked why it took a while for the President to find Ferrer's replacement, Valte said the President had to thoroughly screen and interview some nominees for the Comelec post before he finally picked Lagman.
"The President really wanted to find the right person for the job and sometimes it really takes quite, some time to go over the shortlist. Sometimes also, the President takes a personal hand in interviewing some nominees for any prospective position," she said.
