BBM asked to reappoint Pangarungan to Comelec

THE political coalition highly instrumental in the landslide victories of President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. or BBM and Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio has pushed for the reappointment of Saidamen Pangarungan as chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In a June 16, 2022 letter to Marcos, the BBM-Sara Uniteam Coalition cited Pangarungan's leadership and handling of the just concluded May 9 polls, which were regarded by both local and international observers as highly successful.

"We, the officers and members of the BBM-Sara Uniteam Coalition, are humbly submitting this petition to reappoint Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan who was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA). We believe that the ideals of unity will be best achieved with him at the helm of the Comelec," the letter, signed by coalition chairman Albert dela Cruz, read.

It noted, among others, the peace covenants initiated by Pangarugan in different regions across the country to ensure peaceful and orderly elections, and the transparency in all election processes.

"These are all why the national and local elections of 2022 are regarded as the ones with the most turnout, fastest in transmission and results, and most peaceful. These are all solid arguments to reappoint Chairman Pangarungan. We thank him for delivering these elections that we can be proud of, which also resulted in the results where we now get to see the things we all worked hard for: President BBM and Vice President Sara," the letter said.

The CA bypassed the appointment of Pangarungan and Commissioners George Erwin Garcia and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri in the absence of a quorum.

Lawmakers agreed that the incoming 17th president should be given a free hand to fill up the vacancies in constitutional bodies like the Comelec and other government agencies.

By law, the interim appointments of Pangarungan, Neri and Garcia would end on June 30, the last day in office of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Source: TheManila Times