Senate President Francis Escudero has firmly rejected a proposal by election lawyer Romulo Macalintal for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to appoint a Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner recommended by the opposition. Escudero emphasized the importance of maintaining the non-partisan nature of the election commission, arguing against the influence of political affiliations in such appointments.
Macalintal had suggested that an opposition-endorsed commissioner could help rebuild public confidence in Comelec, especially after recent Supreme Court decisions that questioned the body’s management of electoral disputes. However, Escudero countered this by advocating for the selection of commissioners from within Comelec’s existing ranks, praising their long-standing impartiality and deep understanding of electoral processes.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia echoed Escudero’s sentiments, expressing concerns that appointing someone from a specific political group could compromise the commission’s impartiality. Despite Macalintal’s argument that an appointee from outside the current administration’s circle could ensure the commission’s independence, Garcia maintained that presidential appointees can still uphold impartiality, citing his own appointment as an example.
Garcia also supported the idea of promoting from within Comelec, highlighting the presence of many qualified and impartial individuals already serving in the commission. This comes at a time when the commission is undergoing changes, with Commissioners Socorro Inting and Marlon Casquejo recently retiring after their seven-year terms. The current lineup of the commission includes Garcia and Commissioners Rey Bulay, Aimee Ferolino, Ernesto Maceda, and Nelson Celis.