Marcos names Nelson Celis as new Comelec commissioner

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has appointed Nelson Java Celis as the new commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Celis' appointment paper was shared to the media by Comelec chairperson George Garcia.

In a Viber message to reporters, Garcia explained that Celis has received a regular appointment which means the latter "cannot assume yet until confirmed."

Celis will continue the unexpired portion of former Comelec Commissioner Aimee Torrefrana-Neri. He will sit as Comelec commissioner until February 2,2029, Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudinagco said.

According to the profile shared by Garcia to reporters, Celis is an electronics and communications engineer with 41 years of experience in information technology and management.

He graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering at Don Bosco Technical College.

Celis also earned his doctoral degree on business administration at the De La Salle University.

His expertise includes corporate governance, IT governance, strategic management, risk management, information security management system, business process management, systems audit, project management, business continuity management, and event management. 

In a statement released by Laudiangco, the Comelec expressed its congratulations to Celis, saying Garcia, together with Commissioners Socorro B. Inting, Marlon S. Casquejo, Aimee P. Ferolino and Rey E. Bulay, are looking forward to working with the veteran IT expert and academician.

"We sincerely believe that his expertise and long experience in Information Technology will immensely benefit the COMELEC and further enhance the automation of our electoral processes," Laudiangco said.

"We hope for the confirmation of his Nomination via Regular Appointment, so that Commission en banc, with him on board, can chart the future of automated elections in the Philippines," he added. — RSJ, GMA News