Article by:
Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia on Wednesday said there is no offer from the incoming administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“No offer whatsoever,” he said in a Viber message when asked if the newly-elected Chief Executive has offered him a position in the government.
When asked what are his plans, Garcia said, “I will pursue the electoral reforms that we started in a private capacity. The academe and private practice is (sic) so enticing.”
Garcia, together with two other appointees of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the Commission -- Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan and Commissioner Aimee Neri -- were all by-passed by the Commission on Appointments Wednesday.
He said he does not have ill feelings for not getting the appointment.
Garcia also thanked Comelec and the public.
“No bad feelings. No regrets. So thankful to my Comelec family and the Filipino people for the opportunity,” he said. “The sacrifices are worth it. For God and country.”
Garcia represented Marcos in the electoral protest in connection with the vice presidential race in the 2016 polls.
The three Comelec officials were appointed to the post last March 8.
They, together with the other members of Commission en banc, were able to hold a generally peaceful and orderly May 9, 2022 national and local elections.
The other members of the seven-man panel are Commissioners Socorro Inting, Marlon Casquejo, Rey Bulay and Aimee Ferolino.
Meanwhile, Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan expressed sadness that he and the other appointees of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte were not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday.
“Today, my ad interim appointment as Chairman of the Commission on Elections ends. Due to a lack of quorum, the appointments of President Rodrigo Duterte to the independent Constitutional Commission have all been bypassed,” he said in a statement.
“It is with a heavy heart that I accept such outcome but I would like to restate my utmost respect for the actions of the CA,” he added.
Pangarungan said were able to hold successful May 9, 2022 national and local elections, with over 83 percent voter turnout.
“As we enter the administration of President-elect Marcos, the Comelec will stand proud of our achievements in the 2022 national and local elections,” he said.
“I and my Comelec officialdom have successfully defended the sovereign right of suffrage of the Filipino people with the highest voter turnout in Philippine election history at 83.07 percent,” he said.
He said the polls last month were “the most peaceful election, with only 27 election-related incidents (ERI) compared to 66 ERI in 2019 and 167 in the 2016 election because of our peace covenant signing among candidates in election hotspots nationwide, including Abra, Samar, Marawi and Basilan, among others.”
“We had the record-breaking speed of transmission of election results to the Transparency Server before 12 midnight of election day. And the fastest proclamation of winning senators, the President and Vice president, and our party list representatives,” he said.
He said he would have been confirmed by the CA had there been a quorum. (PNA)
Log in with Google