MANILA, Philippines (1st UPDATE) -- Election lawyer Bernadette Sardillo has declined her appointment to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said on his Twitter account that he is deeply saddened and disappointed by the development, adding that Sardillo would have been a great addition to the poll body.

I learned that Atty. Beng Sardillo declined her appointment as @comelec Commissioner. I am deeply disappointed & saddened by it.

— Sixto Brillantes Jr. (@ChairBrillantes) March 9, 2013

She would have been a great addition to the @comelec.

— Sixto Brillantes Jr. (@ChairBrillantes) March 9, 2013

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said also on her Twitter account that Sardillo withdrew her application to the Comelec, citing her family's wish for her to remain in the private sector.

She said President Benigno Aquino III has already accepted the withdrawal of her application.

(1) In a letter dated March 7, 2013, Atty. Bernadette Sardillo withdrew her application to the COMELEC, citing her family's wish for her..

— Abi Valte (@Abi_Valte) March 9, 2013

(2) to remain in the private sector. President Aquino has accepted the withdrawal of her application.

— Abi Valte (@Abi_Valte) March 9, 2013

Speaking with ANC's Dateline Philippines, Valte added: "I've also been told that there is a member of the family of Atty. Sardillo that...has a health problem at the moment and perhaps this is the reason why the entire family asked her to remain in the private sector."

Meanwhile, she said Aquino has yet to announce a replacement for Sardillo.

She also said that she does not know who recommended Sardillo to the post but confirmed that she was interviewed by the President.

"I understand that the President interviewed 3 people for the post. In receiving questions whether the third person will now get the post, I don't want to preempt the President. But we'll be making the announcement as soon as the President is able to find another person," she said.

Sardillo and former ambassador Macabangkit Lanto were appointed as Comelec commissioners by Aquino on Thursday.

"She has demonstrated her mettle in defending the rights of the citizenry in several particular election contests especially in the last electoral exercise." -- With ANC