Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 13) — President Rodrigo Duterte has defended his new appointees to the Commission on Elections after poll watchdog Kontra Daya raised questions about transparency in the selection process.
Malacañang on March 8 confirmed the appointment of Saidamen Pangarungan, George Garcia and Aimee Neri as Comelec chairman and commissioners, respectively. Kontra Daya urged Malacañang to release the shortlist of candidates for the positions at Comelec for transparency as there was no public vetting in the selection process.
In an interview with televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy aired by SMNI Channel on Saturday, Duterte said Pangarungan is qualified for the position of Comelec chairman.
“He’s a Maranao, he’s good, he’s a lawyer, at saka marami na itong dinaanan na sa gobyerno (and he has extensive experience in government),” the President said.
Pangarungan is a former secretary of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos and former governor of Lanao del Sur. In 1976, he obtained his law degree from San Beda College, where Duterte also studied law.
Duterte said Garcia is a “neutral choice” for him as the veteran election lawyer represented former political rival Prospero Nograles.
“Ever since iyan ang sa kabila eh. Kami ni Boy Nograles over the years, siya ‘yung nasa kabila,” Duterte said. “Pero siya ‘yung inappoint ko. Wala akong sinabihan.”
[Translation: He was part of the camp of Boy Nograles ever since. But I still appointed him. I did not tell anyone about this.]
Garcia also represented Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in his 2016 electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo. Marcos is now a presidential candidate and his running mate is presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Meanwhile, Neri served as an undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, assistant secretary of the Department of Justice, and consultant in the Davao City Mayor’s office.
