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Comelec chair Garcia hoping Marcos will appoint an IT expert to poll body


Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia is hoping that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. would appoint information technology and management experts to the poll body.

"Isa po sa amin talaga sa komisyon na kailangang kailangan ay 'yung may kaalaman lalo na patungkol sa computerization sa IT...at siyempre kailanagn din natin 'yung magaling sa management, sa operations," Garcia said on The Mangahas Interviews.

Garcia said Commissioner Marlon Casquejo, who headed the steering committee in the 2019 and 2022 polls, was set to retire in February 2025 or before the midterm elections.

"Siya po 'yung marunong na marunong at magaling when it comes to the computerization of the election," Garcia said.

Garcia said it would be better if an IT expert who's also a lawyer would join the poll body.

"'Yun po ay kailangang kailangan dahil crucial po ang 2025 dahil magde-desisyon po kami ano ang gagawin namin sa mga lumang machines. Ito ba ay ire-retire na? Babaguhin na ba natin? Magre-rent ba tayo? Bibili ba tayo? Anong specs na kailangan natin? Anong gusto natin?" Garcia said.

"Malaking maitutulong po sa amin kung saka-sakaling may makakasama  kami na magagaling sa IT," he added.

Marcos has yet to appoint two Comelec commissioners who will join Garcia, Casquejo, and commissioners Socorro Inting, Aimee Ferolino, and Rey Bulay.

Then President Rodrigo Duterte in March appointed Garcia and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri as ad interim Comelec commissioners with Saidamen Balt Pangarungan as Comelec chairperson.

The Commission on Appointments in the 18th Congress did not confirm Duterte's appointees to the Comelec.

Marcos last week appointed Garcia as the commission's chairman. —Hana Bordey/NB, GMA News

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