The Philippine Online Chronicles

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo has resigned from his post, four years before his term was slated to end.

According to the 74-year-old former Supreme Court (SC) justice, he wants to “move on” after heading the drive for the country’s first automated elections earlier this year.

“Ever since he [had been saying] that if the 2010 elections will go smoothly, he can leave his post,” said Comelec spokesman Director James Jimenez.

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal confirmed that Melo had already sent a letter of resignation to the Comelec en banc.

“I know that [the letter] will be submitted to the Office of the President soon," he said.

In a separate interview, Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer said that Melo’s resignation will take effect on January 31, 2011.

“We have been talking about it [the resignation] for quite some time now. That is why we were not really surprised by it,” he said.

“The Comelec chairman’s main focus was the May 2010 elections when he was appointed to the post,” Larazzabal added.

Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento said that President Noynoy Aquino can either appoint Melo's successor immediately or choose a temporary officer to look over the August 2011 polls in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The 2010 national elections held last May was fraught with controversy over the use of the PCOS Machines, which critics said could be hacked to manipulate the elections results. Despite the criticism, the automated polls pushed through, resulting in the landslide win of now President Noynoy Aquino.

Melo is rumoured to be up for an ambassadorial post in the new administration. Larrazabal and Ferrer are also set to retire in February 2011.