MANILA - Information technology (IT) expert Angel Averia Jr. has been named as the new acting chairperson of the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel). In a statement Wednesday, the election watchdog said Averia was designated by its national council in a meeting on Tuesday. Averia replaced August Lagman who resigned on June 2, after serving as the poll watchdog's chairperson since 2018. Lagman joined Namfrel in 1984 and headed its Operation Quick Count parallel vote tabulation until 2007. He served as a member of the organization's National Council from 1992 to 2006, and from 2012 until 2022. He also served as commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from 2011 until 2012. "Namfrel and its volunteers deeply appreciate Mr. Lagman's decades of service towards free and fair elections in the country through Namfrel, and wish him all the best as he pursues other advocacies and endeavors," the group said. Averia is Namfrel's repre