PINANGALANAN na ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  ang dalawang komisyonado ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa katauhan nina Atty.  Ernesto Maceda Jr. at reappointed engineer Nelson Celis.

Tinintahan ni Pangulong Marcos ang appointment papers nina Maceda at Celis noong Oktubre 3.

Si Celis  ay reappointed matapos ma-bypass ng Commission on Appointments (CA) ang kanyang ad interim appointment noong Setyembre 28 dahil sa kakulangan ng oras.

Pinalitan ni Celis si Aimee Torrefranca-Neri  na nabigo namang masungkit ang matamis na “Oo” ng CA noong Hunyo.

Sa kabilang dako, pinalitan ni Maceda si George Erwin Garcia, kasalukuyan namang nagsisilbi bilang chairperson ng poll body.

Nakatakda namang mag-expire ang termino nina Celis at Maceda sa Pebrero 2, 2029, base sa kanilang  appointment papers.

Welcome naman sa Comelec ang pagkakatalaga kina Celis at Maceda na maging bahagi ng seven-member en banc ng komisyon.

“They’ll have their Oath before Chairman (George) Garcia on Monday, with their formal assumption to office to follow,” ayon kay Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco.

Bukod kay Garcia, ang en banc ay binubuo nina Commissioners Socorro Inting, Marlon Casquejo, Aimee Ferolino, at Rey Bulay.

“We sincerely believe that his expertise and long experience in Information Technology will immensely benefit the Comelec and further enhance the automation of the electoral processes. With his reappointment, we look forward to continuing the great relations in the Commission that he had already established following his previous appointment,” ayon kay Laudiangco.

Labis namang ikinatuwa ni Maceda ang pagkakatalaga niya sa Comelec.

“I am humbled to be entrusted with the crucial duties and responsibilities of the Office of the Commissioner. The first principle of democracy is that sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them. As guardian of the sovereign will, the Commission on Elections fulfills this task by ensuring that the electoral process is free, fair, credible and honest, orderly and peaceful, informed and meaningful,” ani Maceda. (CHRISTIAN DALE)