Robredo hopeful new Comelec execs will be professional, fair

BAYUGAN CITY, Agusan del Sur—Vice President and presidential bet Leni Robredo expressed hope Wednesday the three new Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials will be professional in performing their duties.

Robredo was referring to newly-appointed Comelec chairman Saidamen Pangarungan, as well as Comelec commissioners Aimee Neri and George Garcia, who served as the lead counsel of former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. when the latter protested his loss against Robredo in the 2016 vice presidential race.

"Umaasa tayo sa professionalism, umaasa tayo sa fairness ng mga bagong nakatalaga. Tayo, naka-hinge doon 'yung ating tiwala. Nagtitiwala tayo na 'yung mga bagong mga na-appoint ay hindi hahayaan na magiging bahagi sila [sa pagdedesisyon sa isang kaso], kung 'yung biases nila will take into play," she said.

(We are counting on the professionalism and fairness of new appointees. We are putting our trust on the new appointees, that they won't participate in deciding on case wherein their biases come into play.)

"Kasi 'yung confidence ng tao sa eleksyon, nakabase sa kung gaano ka unbiased ang Comelec, nakabase doon sa perception na walang kinikilingan 'yung Comelec," she added.

(Because the public's confidence in our election is anchored on how impartial and fair the Comelec is.)

Meanwhile, Robredo said vice presidential candidate Mayor Sara Duterte's decision to ban campaign caravans and motorcades in Davao City is well within her mandate.

"I am not yet aware yet if we will have a campaign sortie there because I only see the schedule on a week-to-week basis. We have a team in campaign headquarters which is in charge of that and we execute based on the readiness on the ground," she said.

"As to the Executive Order, she has the right to decide on or regulate activities within her constituency," Robredo added.—AOL, GMA News