Comelec chair accepts getting bypassed ‘with a heavy heart’

Acting Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Saidamen Pangarungan said Wednesday that he accepts "with a heavy heart" the failure of the Commission on Appointments (CA) to confirm his ad interim appointment.

"Today, my ad interim appointment as Chairman of the Comelec ends. It is with a heavy heart that I accept such an outcome but I would like to restate my utmost respect to the actions of the CA," he said.

Pangarungan issued the statement the same day the CA, composed of lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives, adjourned session without tackling the appointments made by President Rodrigo Duterte due to lack of quorum or the required minimum number of lawmakers who should be in the hearing for it to proceed.

The other Duterte appointees who were bypassed were Commission on Audit chairperson Rizalina Noval Justol, Civil Service Commission chairperson Karlo Alexei Nograles, and Comelec Commissioners Aimee Torrefranca-Neri and George Erwin Garcia.

Being bypassed meant that  their ad interim appointments will only be until June 30, Duterte's last day in office.  The 18th Congress will adjourn sine die on June 3, 2022.

Pangarugan said he stands proud that under his watch, the Comelec was able to successfully conduct the 2022 national and local elections last May 9 with the fastest proclamation of winning senators, the President and Vice President, and party list representatives, as well as the highest voter turnout in Philippine election history at 83.07%.

He cited that the 2022 polls is the most peaceful election, with only 27 election-related incidents  compared to 66 in 2019 and 167 in the 2016 elections.

"This is because of our peace covenant signing among candidates in election hotspots nationwide, including Abra, Samar, Marawi and Basilan, among others. Because of these, I believe that I would have been confirmed by the CA had there been a quorum," he said.

"In closing, I send my deepest thanks and appreciation to the men and women of the Comelec. It is my honor to have served as your Chairman. Shukran and Wassalam," he added.

Earlier, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri disclosed that some incoming members of the Marcos Cabinet have asked him to consider giving the president-elect a chance to install his own appointees for the constitutional commissions.

"Well, truth to be told, I'm sure maraming magkakaroon ng lobbying d'yan, kanya-kanyang tawag sa 25 members ng CA to appoint and not to appoint. I know for a fact that many members of the future cabinet of President BBM have asked me personally na kung pwede ibigay na lang ang opportunity sa ating bagong pangulo... We had a discussion in the proclamation, when we were briefly in the executive lounge, may mga kausap akong incoming cabinet secretaries at 'yan ang pakiusap nila sa akin. And I feel that it is very reasonable," Zubiri had said.—LDF, GMA News