With George Garcia as part of Comelec, Isko says the elections will be 'in good hands'

TARLAC CITY — Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said Tuesday the elections would be "in good hands" following the appointment of election lawyer George Garcia as Comelec commissioner.

Garcia used to be Moreno's election lawyer.

“Napaka-professional… I think we’ll be in good hands. 'Yung ating eleksyon malalagay sa magandang kinalalagyan [with] George being part of the system,” Moreno said in an ambush interview in response to Garcia's appointment.

(He is very professional… I think we’ll be in good hands. Our elections will be in good hands with George being part of the system.)

The Aksyon Demokratiko bet was also asked if he was concerned about the impartiality of Garcia.

“Wala naman. Because he’s also my lawyer,” Moreno said.

(Not at all. Because he’s also my lawyer.)

“Official naman ‘yun, hindi naman naikuble. But he resigned— of course, wala na siya sa amin,” he added.

(That’s official, it’s not a secret. But he resigned. Of course, he’s no longer part of our team.)

Moreno said lawyer Eric Lazo might replace Garcia.

“But things are being considered pa because kahapon pa lang nangyari at official na ngayon. So I’m happy for Atty. George dahil talagang ang specialty ni Atty. George is election law,” he said.

(But things are still being considered because the appointment came yesterday and it became official today. So I'm happy for Atty. George, because his specialty is election law.)

Garcia’s former client, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, also vouched for the newly-appointed poll commissioner’s competence.

“Ang susi d’yan ay kung kaya ng isang lawyer who practices his profession, handling cases for clients, to tell himself or herself na ‘hindi ka na lawyer ngayon, judge ka na.' And therefore, be objective in decision making and be willing to inhibit from cases where he or she cannot decide objectively due to closeness to one of the parties…History will judge them. Then after 'history,' God will judge them too,” Pimentel said in a text message shared to reporters.

(The key here is whether a lawyer who practices his profession, handling cases for clients, can tell himself or herself that he or she is no longer a lawyer but a judge.)

“The proof of the pudding is in the eating. I believe kaya ni Atty. George Garcia ‘yan (I believe Atty. George Garcia can do it)… We will be watching their every move and will be quick in reporting these to the Filipino people,” he added.

For his part, vice presidential candidate and Senator Francis Pangilinan considered Garcia’s appointment a "serious concern."

Garcia had also served as election lawyer for Senator Grace Poe and presidential hopeful Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., whose disqualification case has yet to be decided with finality by the Comelec. — VBL, GMA News