Duterte Youth asks CA to defer confirmation of 2 Comelec commissioners

Duterte Youth Party-list has asked the Commission on Appointments to defer the confirmation of Commission of Elections commissioners Noli Pipo and Norina Casingal for signing a resolution suspending its proclamation.

Pipo and Casingal were part of the National Board of Canvassers that signed a resolution suspending the proclamation of Duterte Youth as one of the party-list winners in the Eleksyon 2025 pending petitions filed against it.  

“In behalf of the 2.3 million  Filipinos who voted for the Duterte Youth party-list, we seek the senators and congressmen of the Honorable CA to review the pending confirmation of Comelec Commissioners Noli Pipo and Norina Casingal, who both signed to suspend the May 19 Proclamation of the Duterte Youth party-list," the group said in a statement.

"Their act of signing to delay the proclamation of a duly-elected candidate with an overwhelming mandate from the Filipino People, gives the CA a glimpse on what these Commissioners will do if they are confirmed," it added.

The group also cited the case of senator-elect and ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo who was proclaimed as one of the winners in the 2025 elections even if the CA previously rejected his nomination as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development due to questions about his Filipino citizenship.

"We hope the CA can ask these questions to our two new COMELEC Commissioners who have pending appointments," it added.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia, for his part, welcomed the Duterte Youth’s appeal as he came in defense of the two new commissioners. He explained their votes were based on the recommendation of the supervisory group of the poll body.

“Mayroon din isang balita sapagkat 'yung dalawa naming kasamahan na up for confirmation ay ipapa-revoke sa CA. Sa amin, 'yan ay isang welcome development…Sa bandang huli, it is their merit and weakness na pag-uusapan dun,” said Garcia.

(We received news that the CA is being asked to revoke the appointment of our two new commissioners. We welcome that development because at the end of the day, it is their merit and weakness that will be discussed there.)

“Ang sinasabi kasi 'yung naging boto nila dun sa pagkaka-suspend ng proclamation and therefore, dapat hindi sila i-confirm. Hindi dapat na define ang kakayahan ng isang appointee dahil sa naging boto niya sa isang kaso…Ganun ang naging boto ng National Board of Canvassers, nakadepende sa recommendation ng supervisory group ng Comelec. Therefore, hindi sila basta nag-exercise ng discretion nang walang pinagbasehan. Nakabase pa rin 'yun sa naging recommendation ng grupo na incharge sa bagay na 'yan at pendency ng naging kaso,” he added.

(Those who requested the revokation are citing the commissioners’ votes on the suspension of proclamation of two party-lists. However, that shouldn’t be the sole basis for the decision becaue their votes were also based on the recommendation of the supervisory group of the Comelec. Therefore, they did not exercise their discretion without basis.)

The CA has the authority to confirm or reject the appointments made by the President. —AOL, GMA Integrated News

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