New poll execs
PRESIDENT Marcos has appointed two “insiders” as new commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), drawing cheers from the electortate.
They are lawyers Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal and Noli Pipol, replacing Commissioners Socorro Inting and Marlon Casquejo, respectively.
Records show that Casingal used to head the poll body’s law department, while Pipo was a former provincial election officer of Ilocos Sur .
A native of Bantay, Ilocos Sur, Pipo was an assistant regional director in 2004. He has been with the Comelec since 1993.
No less than Chairman George Erwin Garcia, himself a lawyer, hailed the promotion of the two as “a big boost to the morale of Comelec personnel.|
Garcia said having insiders as poll commissioners would help the Comelec in its preparations for the May 12 off-season national and local elections.
The Comelec chairman had earlier asked President Marcos to appoint long-time career poll officials to replace retired commissioners.
Should Casingal and Pipo be confirmed by the Commission on Appontments, They will serve until Feb. 2, 2032, a good two years before the 2034 presidential polls.
By February 2027, all poll commissioners are appointees of President Marcos.
In 2022, President Marcos appointed George Erwin Garcia and Commissioners Nelson Celis and Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda Jr.
The other Comelec commissioners are Aimee Ferolino Ampoloquio and Rey Bulay.
