3 Comelec commissioners retire ahead of Eleksyon 2022

Three Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioners have officially retired three months ahead of the 2022 national and local elections.

The poll body on Wednesday afternoon held a retirement ceremony for Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas, Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Antonio Kho Jr.

Commissioner Socorro Inting, the most senior commissioner, will be the acting Comelec chairman starting February 3.

There will also be a reshuffle in the composition of the Comelec divisions as the remaining commissioners will have to follow the seniority protocol in the Comelec.

During the ceremony, Abas, Guanzon and Kho were given tokens of appreciation in honor of their service to the poll commission.

Commissioners Inting, Marlon Casquejo, Aimee Ferolino, and Rey Bulay also delivered speeches to acknowledge the outgoing commissioners’ contribution to the Comelec.

Amid the rift between Guanzon and Ferolino over the delayed release of the ponencia on the disqualification cases against presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the latter had hoped that the friendship that she had with the outgoing poll officials will remain.

“I know that even if they are retired, they are just a phone call away. Right, Chair (Abas), Comm. Kho, Comm. Bing (Guanzon)?” Ferolino said.

“And I hope that the friendship that we have started will not end with you leaving the commission,” she added.

After the speeches of the sitting commissioners, Abas, Guanzon, and Kho also gave their valedictory speech.

Abas recalled his “baptism of fire” during the 2016 national and local elections, as well as the reforms that he introduced in the commission since his appointment.

He was praised by the outgoing and the sitting commissioners for his able leadership in the Comelec.

The retirement of the three officials left the incumbent four commissioners to lead the poll body in the conduct of the 2022 national and local elections. All of them are appointees of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Under Article IX, Section 1 and 2 of the Philippine Constitution, “[t]he Chairman and the Commissioners shall be appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on Appointments for a term of seven years without reappointment. Of those first appointed, three Members shall hold office for seven years, two Members for five years and the last Members for three years, without reappointment. Appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired term of the predecessor. In no case shall any Member be appointed or designated in a temporary or acting capacity.”

The president’s appointment of new commissioners will be subject to the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments (CA) — a body composed of lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives.

However, both Houses of Congress are set to adjourn its session from February 4 until May 22 to give way for the Eleksyon 2022 campaign.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, chair of the CA, said the bicameral commission could not approve appointments as they cannot convene if the sessions are adjourned.

"Cannot convene. Can only convene after the break last week of May. Appointees will therefore be ad interim appointments," Sotto told GMA News Online in a text message.—LDF, GMA News