Career official, woman ideal new Comelec commissioners – Garcia
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia (INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO)
MANILA, Philippines — It would do the Commission on Elections (Comelec) good if its two new commissioners would consist of a woman and a career official,
Garcia made the remark as commissioners Socorro Inting and Marlon Casquejo are set to retire on Feb. 2, a few months before the midterm elections on May 12.
“As much as possible, [we hope the new commissioners] would be from the main office or from the Comelec field [offices], and we hope for at least, one woman and a man, so there would be balance,” Garcia said in an ambush interview at the Manila Hotel, where the Comelec’s regular meeting was held.
Upon Inting’s retirement, only Aimee Ferolino will be the sole woman among the poll body’s top officials.
Garcia echoed the call of the Comelec union, which urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to appoint Comelec “insiders.”
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“Placing people who know elections like the back of their hands will surely redound to the benefit of the Filipino people,” Comelec employees union chief Imelda Panis said in a statement.
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“Thus, we call on the President to please consider appointing commissioners from within the ranks,” she added.
Garcia also disclosed that Malacañang had already interviewed several candidates for the new vacant posts.
“I am happy, so far, with the lineup [of personalities] who may be assigned to Comelec,” he said.