NextGen Day

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said the incoming chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Saidamen Balt Pangarungan, is competent and has extensive public service experience.

Duterte acknowledged concerns about Pangarungan’s appointment in a prerecorded interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy aired Saturday on SMNI. They both graduated from San Beda University.

“Ang inaano is ini-issue lang nila sa akin diyan (They are making a problem of it) because he is also from San Beda.” I’m sorry, but sa totoo lang hindi ko nakita’yan. Nakita ko nakita ko nakita ko nakita Ni hindi ko nakita na nakita na nakita na nakita na “But in truth, I’ve never met him,” he admitted.

“I’m aware — he’s a Maranao.” He’s quite good. He’s a lawyer, and saka marami na itong dinaanan na sa gobyerno (and he’s held a number of government positions),” he continued.

Duterte expressed confidence that Pangarungan will address issues plaguing the Comelec, like ballot printing, which was purportedly closed to election observers.

“I’m not sure what the incoming chairman’s decision will be.” It’s a bit of a… They’re being manipulated… “I’m sure he’d have something to say about it because they’re both involved in it,” he remarked.

Pangarungan, the former secretary of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF), graduated from San Beda College with a Liberal Arts degree in 1971 and a law degree in 1976.

From 1988 to 1992, he was the governor of the province of Lanao del Sur.

Under President Corazon “Cory” Aquino’s administration, he was also named undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

‘Alternative choice’

Meanwhile, Duterte supported renowned election lawyer George Garcia’s selection as Comelec commissioner.

Garcia was the attorney who represented presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his VP election appeal in 2016.

Garcia’s selection was termed by him as a “neutral choice.”

“Would you believe that, Ito namang si (This) Garcia?” He’s a neutral decision for the sake of the akin because ito ‘yung… (for me since) In truth, he was the… He has always been the attorney for the late Boy Nograles ito si Garcia (Garcia has always been the attorney for former House Speaker Prospero Nograles),” he remarked.

Earlier, acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar emphasized that Comelec personnel were chosen based on their qualifications.

“Dapat respetuhin natin ang Pangulo’s prerogative. Ito naman basta-basta na pinipili hindi naman. We should respect the President’s prerogative (Napakahabang proseso at mayroon ngang). He doesn’t simply choose them. The vetting procedure is lengthy. “Choosing an appointee na tatagal sa isang (that would last in a) quasi-judicial independent body like the Comelec is not easy,” he remarked.

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