Duterte frat brod named Comelec commissioner

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has appointed a fraternity brother as commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), filling the post vacated by Sheriff Abas who moved up as chairman of the poll body.

The new Comelec official – former justice undersecretary Antonio Kho Jr. – will serve until Feb. 2, 2022. Malacañang released Kho’s appointment paper, dated July 11, yesterday.

Kho is a member of San Beda Law’s Lex Talionis fraternity to which Duterte also belongs.

“The commission welcomes the appointment of Antonio Kho Jr. as commissioner. (This) rounds up the composition of the seven-member en banc as the Comelec goes full steam ahead with its preparations for the May 13, 2019 elections,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said.

Aside from Kho, two other commissioners were appointed by Duterte: Socorro Inting, a former associate justice of the Court of Appeals, and Marlon Casquejo, who used to be assistant regional director of Comelec for Davao.

Abas was named commissioner by former president Benigno Aquino III until he was named chairman by Duterte. 

Comelec Employees Union president Mac Ramirez also welcomed Kho’s appointment as he noted that since the poll body is now complete, it will be able to prepare for the upcoming elections better.

Ramirez added the Comelec’s rank and file employees are looking forward to working with Kho.

National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections secretary-general Eric Alvia said there is no more reason for the Comelec to experience delays in the preparation for next year’s polls.

Alvia also underscored the need for the poll officials to be “transparent and independent” in handling the elections.

“There were a lot of questions with regard to the results of the 2016 elections. If they were transparent then, these could have been avoided so I hope that the Comelec will be open to ensure the integrity of next year’s elections,” he added.  

Other appointments

Duterte also appointed lawyer Kim Raisa Uy as assistant secretary in the Office of the Executive Secretary.

In another memorandum dated July 11, Elisa May Arboleda-Cuevas and Gilbert Santos were appointed as executive directors of the National Privacy Commission, while Cyril Ticao and Sarah Mirasol were named directors of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Duterte appointed Exequiel Guzman as director of the DOLE, replacing Forter Puguon, along with Yahya Centi vice Exequiel Sarcauga.

Meanwhile, Harold Cabreros will replace Josefina Timoteo as director in the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) under the Department of National Defense.  

The Palace also announced that Ruben Carandang and Cesar Idio had been appointed directors in the OCD.

Lopito Mendoza was assigned as member, representing the workers’ sector, in the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, Region 5, National Wages and Productivity Commission under DOLE.   

Teresita Tolentino and Joel de Veyra were also assigned to the RTWPB board as members, representing the employers’ sector for Region 4-B.

New DOJ undersecretaries

All the three newly appointed Department of Justice undersecretaries and one assistant secretary are scheduled to take their oaths on Monday, but Diwa party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar will start working in the DOJ only in August. 

 Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said yesterday Villar would have to wrap up her work in Congress before she could formally assume her new position.

 Duterte, upon the recommendation of Guevarra, appointed Villar, Adrian Sugay, Mark Perete as undersecretaries while Neal Vincent Bainto was appointed as DOJ assistant secretary.

“The new guys will take their oath on Monday and assume their duties right away. We will discuss the allocation of work assignments, including media relations,” Guevarra said. 

Guevarra expressed confidence the three newly appointed officials would perform well in their tasks. “They are used to heavy workloads that is why I chose them as the new undersecretaries and assistant secretary.”

 The new officials replaced those who resigned along with former justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II.

Registration reminder

In another development, the Comelec reiterated yesterday that the deadline for the filing of petitions for registration of political parties for the May 2019 polls is on July 15.

But Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said that since July 15 falls on a Sunday, its local offices in cities and municipalities will still accept petitions until 6 p.m. of July 16. 

Jimenez noted the coalition of political parties, on the other hand, has until Aug. 31 to apply for registration.

Under Article 8 Section 61 of the Omnibus Election Code, any organized group of persons seeking registration as a national or regional political party may file a petition before the Comelec.

The poll body will then screen applicants based on several requirements, including their constitution and bylaws, platform of government and membership.

Jimenez added that petitions for registration can be submitted to the Clerk of Commmission but payment of P10,000 is required. – With Sheila Crisostomo