Comelec: Up to Duterte to respond to call for 'public vetting' of new commissioners in 2022

The Commission on Elections would not comment on the suggestion of a former chairman who called for a "public vetting" of potential appointees to the election body in February 2022.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said it was President Rodrigo Duterte who should respond to the suggestion made by former Comelec chairman Christian Monsod.

“That’s for the President to respond to,” Jimenez told reporters in a VIber message.

Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas, Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Antonio Kho Jr. are set to end their term in February 2022.

The vacancy left by former Commissioner Luie Tito Guia has yet to be filled.

After the term of the outgoing commissioners, the en banc will be left with Commissioners Marlon Casquejo, Soccoro Inting, and Aimee Ferolino. All are appointees of Duterte.

According to Monsod, the appointment of new poll commissioners could be a “game-changer” in the upcoming polls.

Reacting to Monsod’s concern, Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III emphasized the power of the Commission on Appointments (CA) over the presidential appointees.

Lacson, a presidential aspirant, explained that Duterte had the prerogative, under the Constitution, to pick new commissioners or secretaries in various government bodies.

“Ngayon, ang papel ng kongreso d'yan, Senado at Lower House, dadalhin sila sa CA yun ang tinatawag na checks and balances sa separation of powers,” Lacson said.

(The role of Congress, both the Senate and the Lower House, here is to bring them to CA. This is what we call checks and balances on the separation of powers.)

Sotto, a vice-presidential aspirant, agreed to Lacson’s statement, noting that there had been cases where appointees were not confirmed by the CA.

“I agree the power of the CA is to confirm the appointments of the president. So kahit sino ilagay ng presidente d’yan kung ‘di naman lulusot sa CA, at ilang beses na nangyari yan panahon pa ni [former President Cory Aquino] even sa panahon ni President Duterte, tatlo ata ang ‘di namin in-approve. So hindi ganon kadali ‘yon di por que in-appoint e pwede na agad [umupo],” Sotto said.

(Whoever the president appoints, if the CA does not approve their appointments, then they cannot assume their posts. It had happened before, from the time of Cory until the time of President Duterte. So, that is not easy.)

Sotto is the current chairperson of the CA while Lacson is a member of the bicameral panel.

The CA, consists of lawmakers from both Houses of Congress, is vested by the 1987 Philippine Constitution with the power to approve or disapprove appointments made by the President of the Philippines, the confirmation of which is required under the Constitution.

This power shall be discharged with impartiality, without partisan consideration, and with only one impelling motive, which is the harmonious and efficient functioning of the government.

The Commission’s function forms part of the very delicate mechanism of checks and balances established by the Constitution to ensure that the coordinate departments of the government will function in a way that will be most conducive to the public welfare. -NB, GMA News