New Comelec, CSC executives named

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino appointed yesterday a 37-year-old lawyer and a 61-year-old state auditor as commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Civil Service Commission (CSC), respectively.

Christian Robert Lim, who was a member of the Bantay Balota group of then presidential candidate Aquino and his running mate Sen. Mar Roxas, was designated Comelec commissioner, replacing Gregorio Larrazabal, who retired in early February.

Rasol Lamping Mitmug, Commission on Audit director for

Region 11 based in Davao City, was appointed CSC commissioner in place of Cesar Buenaflor, who also once served as commissioner of the defunct Presidential Anti-Graft Commission under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Lim served as an associate of the Carpio, Villaraza and Cruz Law Offices, popularly known as The Firm, from 1998 to 2000, and was endorsed by former Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa Ignacio, an ally and former subordinate of the law office’s senior partner Simeon Marcelo.

The newest Comelec member also helped in the congressional candidacy of Vivienne Tan, daughter of beer and tobacco magnate Lucio Tan, in Quezon City, although she lost to re-elected Rep. Vincent Crisologo.

Lim also served as private prosecutor in the plunder case against deposed President Joseph Estrada, as well as in the murder charges leveled against Sen. Panfilo Lacson. He was also deposition officer in the aborted impeachment of Estrada in December 2000.

Lim obtained his law degree from the Ateneo Law School in 1998.

For her part, Mitmug counted as references former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. and his senator-son Teofisto III, former Senate President Jovito Salonga, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and Samar Rep. Raul Daza, a Liberal Party stalwart.

Both Lim’s and Mitmug’s fixed seven-year terms will end on Feb. 2, 2018.

Poll watchdog groups, meantime, were surprised by the appointment of Lim.

In a telephone interview, Consortium on Electoral Reforms executive director Ramon Casiple said that Lim was not included in the list of nominees they submitted to President Aquino.

“But I don’t want to prejudge him. Maybe he can do something to reform our electoral system,” Casiple said.

National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections secretary general Eric Alvia said “professionally, Lim seems to be competent.”

More appointees

Also yesterday, Aquino administered oaths to 33 new appointees, including AFP chief of staff Eduardo Oban Jr., Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama and retired AFP chief Ricardo David, who is now the immigration chief.

Other officials sworn into office were Erwin Chua Andaya, commissioner representing Visayas of the National Youth Commission (NYC), Office of the President (OP); Georgina Nava, commissioner representing Luzon, NYC-OP; Earl Saavedra, commissioner representing Mindanao, NYC-OP; Percival Cendanna, commissioner-at-large, NYC-OP; Nora Oliveros, deputy executive secretary for finance and administration, OP; Fernando Mesa, assistant director-general, National Security Council Secretariat, OP; Ofelia Arellano-Marquez, chair, Central Board of Assessment Appeals of the Department of Finance; Alfredo Tolentino, assistant secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways; Ester Aldana, assistant secretary, Department of Interior and Local Government; and Nelson Acebo, commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government.

Also among the newly-promoted military officials were Lt. Gen. Arthur Tabaquero, commander, EastMinCom; Rear Admiral Orwen Cortez, VC, PN; MGen. Ramiro Alivio, TNIG, PN; MGen. Elmir dela Cruz, DCS for AFP-CEIS J6; MGen. Romulo Bambao, C, ISAFP; MGen. Nonato Alfredo Peralta Jr., Supt., PMA; Rear Admiral Edgar Abogado, CNS, PN; BGen. Mariano Veloria, Comdr, 53 EBDE, Philippine Army (PA); BGen. Samuel Narbuada, ADCS for Intelligence, BGen. Alex Albano, Comdr, AresCom, PA; BGen. Arnolfo Atendido, ADC, 7ID, PA; Commodore Isabelo Gador, Chief, OLA; Commodore Geronimo Aganon, DC, NASSCOM; BGen. Ramona Go, ADCS for PERS, J1; Commodore Caesar Taccad, Comdr, NFNL, PN; BGen. Maximo Caro, Comdt, CCAFP, PMA; BGen. Lito Tabangcura, Cmdr, AFPResCom; and Commodore Wenefredo Banua, chairman, PN BAC. – With Sheila Crisostomo