CNN Philippines correspondent Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 1) — Elections Commissioner George Garcia said he will accept the offer if President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reappoints him to the poll body after he failed to get the approval of the Commission on Appointments on Wednesday.
“Kung ako po’y bibigyan ng pagkakataon makapaglingkod muli, sampung beses ko pong pipiliin ang Commission on Elections (Comelec) sapagkat kakaiba ang professionalism ng mga taong nandyan,” he said.
The position for Comelec chair and two commissioners will be left vacant for Marcos appointees after Garcia, his fellow Commissioner Aimee Neri, and Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan—all appointed by outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte in March—failed to secure the approval of the Commission on Appointments due to lack of hearing quorum on the last session day of the 18th Congress.
Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri said the lawmakers received a request from the incoming Marcos administration to give them the “courtesy” to make the appointments.
Garcia is a veteran election lawyer who represented Marcos in the electoral protest he filed against Vice President Leni Robredo in 2016.
He will leave his post on Wednesday after serving for less than three months, but he said he is confident the four remaining Comelec commissioners will perform well as they prepare to check the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of candidates and start preparations for the Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay Elections and the reopening of voter’s registration.
“Napatunayan po nila before kami naappoint na kaya naman nilang mapamahalaan ang Commission on Elections [They proved that they can work well before our appointment]. Life will have to go on in the Commission on Elections and at the same time work in the Comelec will have to proceed,” he said.
Incoming press secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said there is no information yet whether Marcos is keen on reappointing the officials bypassed CA.
