Comelec: Give commissioners chance to prove impartiality

The public should give the new poll commissioners a chance to prove that they are impartial and neutral in resolving matters in the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Thus, said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez after the appointment of election lawyer George Garcia as one of the new poll commissioners drew criticisms.

Garcia is an election lawyer whose former clients include presidential candidates Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and former senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., Senators Grace Poe and Aquilino 'Koko' Pimentel III.

Marcos is facing at least seven petitions against his presidential bid before the Comelec. Pimentel, on the other hand, is dealing with a petition filed by the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi that seeks to declare him and Senator Manny Pacquiao as illegitimate members of the ruling party.

“We have to give each individual commissioner the opportunity to prove themselves impartial and neutral in the exercise of their duties,” Jimenez said at a press briefing.

He compared Garcia’s background as an election lawyer to former Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes.

“I’ll give you an example, Sixto Brillantes was a practicing election lawyer when he was appointed. Chairman pa,” he said.

“Ultimately, it really depends on the appointee and how the appointee works himself] once they are in office. And we are very confident that the appointees will be able to navigate that. they will be able to act impartially and fairly in all matters before them,” he added.

Should there be a conflict of interest, the Comelec spokesperson said the new commissioners will “deal with that appropriately” as inhibition in certain cases is not unusual in the poll body.

“Ultimately, what really matters is the expertise that our appointees bring to the table,” he added.

Jimenez further pointed out that it is expected that the incoming poll commissioners will receive criticisms as they will all be appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Alam mo, hindi pa sila pinapangalan alam na natin na babatikusin ‘yung bagong appointees simply because and nag-appoint sa kanila ay ang pangulo natin, si Pangulong Duterte,” he noted.

(Even before they were named, we expect that they will face criticisms simply because they will be appointed by President Duterte.)

He then welcomed Garcia and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri as interim Comelec commissioners and Saidamen Balt Pangarungan as ad interim chairperson of the poll commission.

“Ang Comelec natutuwa kami na mayroon na kaming bagong commissioners, bagong chairman…We feel that they are great additions to the commission en banc and we looking forward to working with them,” he said.

(The Comelec is happy that we have new commissioners and a new chairman. We feel that they are great additions to the commission en banc and we are looking forward to working with them.)

In an interview with GMA News’ Tina Panganiban-Perez, Garcia assured the public that he will inhibit in all the cases that he handled.

Atty George Garcia, newly-appointed Comelec commissioner on possible conflict of interest after having lawyered for many politicians, including current candidates: That’s part of lawyering. @gmanews #Eleksyon2022

— Tina PanganibanPerez (@tinapperez) March 8, 2022

“Kapag may mga kaso ring palagay ko kahit hindi ko hina-handle ngayon pero dahil naging clients ko before o nagkaroon ako ng relationship before, in my commissioner capacity, I’m going to take no part,” he added.

(If there are cases which involve my former clients or persons whom I have a personal relationship before, in my commissioner capacity, I’m going to take no part.)

“I will always exercise prudence and due diligence and definitely the highest ethical standard. Kasi para sa akin, mas malaki po yung sakripisyo ko rito ngayon kung titingnan niyo naman, kumpara doon sa private practice. Kaya lang para na lang sa bayan talaga,” he added.

(For me, I have sacrificed a lot here compared to my private practice.)

Garcia said other Eleksyon 2022 candidates who used to be his clients are Senator Manny Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero.

Garcia has taken his oath of office before acting Comelec chairpereson Socorro Inting on Tuesday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, Malacañang announced the appointments of the new Comelec commissioners.

The other Comelec commissioners are Socorro Intind, Marlon Caquejo, Aimee Ferolino, and Rey Bulay.

The commissioners sitting in the en banc before the 2022 national and local elections are all Duterte appointees. —NB, GMA News