Noli Pipo takes oath as Comelec commissioner

Atty. Noli Rafol Pipo on Wednesday took his oath as the new commissioner of the  Commission on Elections (Comelec). 

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia administered Pipo's oath-taking at the Comelec head office in Intramuros, Manila.

“I will always be thankful to our chairman George Erwin Garcia for fighting for us with superb integrity and determination…He really pushed us so hard. Without him, we won’t be appointed,” said Pipo in his speech. 

The new poll body commissioner has been with the Comelec for 32 years. He started as an election officer in Bangued, Abra, in 1993 before climbing the ranks and acting as regional election director of Comelec Region I since 2006. 

LOOK: Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia sworns in Atty. Noli Pipo as new poll body commissioner. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/TdCci5Rx8t

— Sundy Locus ???????? (@sundylocus_) February 12, 2025

Pipo replaced former Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, who recently retired after completing his seven-year term. He will serve under the Comelec Second Division.

“Sobrang pasasalamat natin sa ating Pangulo sapagkat tinalaga niya ay may mga karanasan at nalalaman ang problema ng ating Komisyon,” said Garcia.

(We are thankful to the President for appointing those who have experience and are aware of the problems of the commission.)

“Ang pagtalaga ng Pangulo ay pagkilala na ang mga nasa Comelec, lalo na ang mga opisyales nito ay marurunong, magagaling, at dedicated sa kanilang trabaho,” he added.

(Their appointment shows that the personnel and officials of Comelec are knowledgeable and dedicated to their work.)

Meanwhile, Garcia defended the designation of the new commissioners, saying having a majority of commissioners being appointed by the sitting administration is constitutional.

“Ang kapangyarihan ng Pangulo is always checked by the power of the Congress to confirm the appointment or not… Sa isang democratic Constitutional government there is always the principle of separation of power and checks and balances,” he said.

(The powers of the President are always checked by the power of Congress to confirm the appointment or not.)

On Monday, Garcia announced the appointment of Pipo and Nori Tangaro-Casingal as the poll body's new commissioners completing the seven-man Comelec en banc.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News

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