Comelec, CSC chiefs hurdle CA

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed yesterday the appointment of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia as head of the agency.

Members of the bicameral body, led by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, also approved Karlo Nograles as head of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Both Garcia and Nograles were also appointees of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The CA cited Garcia’s track record and expertise on election laws during CA deliberations on his designation.

“He is cognizant of the fact that the field of election law is so imbued with public interest that he made it his life’s mission to see to it that the sanctity of the will of the electorate is upheld and reigns supreme in every electoral exercise,” Sen. Cynthia Villar, chair of the CA committee on constitutional bodies, said in moving for Garcia’s confirmation.

“His professional life has always been geared towards the strengthening of our government’s pillars of democracy. With this, he has become an indispensable ally in our young democracy’s quest for honest, credible and orderly elections,” she said.

Sen. Grace Poe cited Garcia for his contributions to the enactment of the landmark Foundling Recognition and Protection Act.

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito noted Garcia “hurdled the most difficult seasonal job in the government, that is the election season.”

“He is known in the legal field as someone who has the ability to raise arguments that evoke fruitful discussions on pressing legal issues among the bench and the bar. In the legal profession he is admired as a staunch defender of the law,” Ejercito said.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said Garcia could help lawmakers address gaps in the country’s election laws and processes even as he cited the poll chief for working with members of the media which, he said, ensures the transparency, credibility and integrity of the country’s elections.

“He brings a well-rounded appreciation and distinct perspective to our electoral process,” Estrada said.

During the deliberations, Sen. Risa Hontiveros sought a report from Garcia on the Comelec’s work on its information technology and software as she handled the poll body’s budget discussions in the last three years, including P1.3 billion for the system.

Garcia said the Comelec spent P2.29 billion this year for the May elections to include the voter registration system and the precinct finder, which he admitted, had some problems.

Despite financial, administrative and technical challenges, the Comelec was able to thwart 35,000 attempts to intrude into the system in the aftermath of the 2019 hacking of the precinct finder because of the improvements the poll body implemented, he said.

Garcia vowed to protect Comelec data and systems from hacking and other attacks even as he urged Congress to make “trolling” a crime.

He said the Comelec has its automated fingerprint identification system that can detect double registration. Poll officers have been able to remove the names of double registrants and charge them in courts.

“Internally, we protect all our systems because Comelec is prone to hacking by everyone. They are very proud that they can hack us. But under our watch we will never allow these things to happen,” Garcia said.

The Comelec chief responded to Hontiveros’ questions on what the poll body is doing to address disinformation and “fake news” that have been affecting the elections.

“I think it’s high time that Congress should determine whether trolling should be considered a separate crime by itself. Not only punishable by law on cybercrime prevention but trolling should be considered a separate crime, Congress should strengthen our relationship with platforms so that they themselves can regulate as far as fake news is concerned. Fake news is really a threat to our democracy,” Garcia said.

Of the three Comelec commissioners appointed by Duterte toward the end of his term, only Garcia was confirmed, while Saidamen Pangarungan and Aimee Torrefranca Neri were deemed bypassed.

Nograles, before his appointment to the CSC, was head of the now defunct Presidential Management Staff and Secretary to the Cabinet of Duterte.

Institutional reforms

Garcia has vowed not only to equal but also surpass the achievements of the poll body in the May 2022 elections as he pushes for “institutional reforms.”

In a statement, Garcia said that his leadership will advocate for more responsive election laws, establish better measures for greater transparency and open channels for better engagement with the Filipino people.

“As we stand in front of an ever-changing information and technology landscape, the Comelec hopes to meet it with professional and competent personnel who will maintain our level of efficiency without sacrificing credibility,” Garcia said.

“These are required of us, and I also take this opportunity to remind the personnel of the Comelec that we perform not just ordinary duties, but duties mandated by no less than the Constitution. We will not underestimate the work in front of us,” he added.

Garcia said tat the challenges in leading the Comelec are numerous, but can be easily overcome with the formidable people of the poll body. – Robertzon Ramirez