Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman and retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Armando Melo died last Sunday at the age of 88.
Melo is remembered for ushering the country’ automated elections.
Federation of Free Worker (FFW) president Sonny Matula remembered Melo for leading the Melo Commission, which probed political killings during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The commission recommended the filing of charges against military officials, including retired major general Jovito Palparan.
“FFW appreciates Justice Melo as a guiding light of liberty. At the SC, he blew the bugle sounds and acted as the faithful guardian of the fundamental writ,” Matula said.
For his part, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez remembered Melo for facilitating the transition from manual elections to automated polls.
“Just received word that Chairman Jose A.R. Melo, former SC Justice, and the Comelec Chairman who oversaw the country’s transition to full automation from 2008 to 2010, has passed away,” Jimenez said in his Twitter account.
Aside from the automation, Melo’s other contribution include his reforms for detainee voting and campaign finance reporting.
“Due to these initiatives, persons deprived of liberty can exercise their right of suffrage today. His leadership in the Commission also paved the way for major strides in Campaign Finance Reporting and Regulation,” Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) Executive Director Rona Caritos said in a statement.
Melo is the second ex-chief of Comelec to die this year, after Sixto Brillantes Jr., who succeeded him, died last month.