CA confirms Comelec's Tangaro-Casingal, Pipo

The powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) approved Tuesday the ad interim appointments of  Ma. Norina Tangaro-Casingal and Noli Rafol Pipo as commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec). 

This developed after the bicameral body’s Committee on Constitutional Commission and Offices endorsed to the plenary the confirmation of the two poll body commissioners. 

During the committee hearing, Tangaro-Casingal and Pipo were asked about various issues during the recent May 12 polls, including the 17 million overvotes and low voter turnout for overseas voting. 

They were likewise directed to answer the opposition against the confirmation of their appointments, including the sworn opposition filed by Rogelio Rabanal against Tangaro-Casingal. 

Rabanal opposed Tangaro-Casingal’s appointment after she allegedly denied his motion for reconsideration for his candidacy as Sangguniang Panlalawigan bet in the 2022 elections. At the time, Tangaro-Casingal was the Director IV of the Comelec law department.

“The signature in his certificate of candidacy was merely a scanned signature so we recommended that the COC shall be deemed as not filed. He was not included in the official ballots for the 2022 NLE,” said Tangaro-Casingal.

Meanwhile, lawmakers slammed Rabanal after he allegedly mispronounced Tangaro-Casingal’s surname during his manifestation.

“This is a very respectable body. Such imputations are not allowed. We are recognizing you to give you right but the nominee also has right…Please respect the body, respect the nominee,” said Camarines Sur Representative LRay Villafuerte.

“Stop saying Tanga-ro. It is not allowed,” he added. 

Rabanal apologized to the CA. 

With the confirmation, the Comelec commissioners will now serve a seven-year term, or  until February 2, 2032. 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named Tangaro-Casingal as the new Comelec commissioner in February, replacing ex-commissioner Socorro Inting, who retired after completing her seven-year term. 

Tangaro-Casingal was director of the Comelec Law Department since 2016. She was an election lawyer who served in the Comelec for 27 years. 

Marcos Jr. also appointed Pipo to succeed ex-Commissioner Marlon Casquejo. Pipo has been serving at the Comelec for 32 years. He started as an election officer in Bangued, Abra, in 1993 before climbing the ranks and acting as regional election director since 2006. 

Meanwhile, the CA also approved the ad interim appointments of 84 senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News