Larrazabal is 7th poll commissioner

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has appointed Commission on Elections (Comelec) regional director Gregorio Larrazabal as commissioner of the poll body to take the place of Leonardo Leonida.

Larrazabal was regional election director for Region 8 or Eastern Visayas at the time of his appointment and used to serve as provincial election supervisor for Bulacan.

The appointment of Larrazabal completes the lineup of the Comelec of six commissioners and the chairman.

Larrazabal takes over from Leonida who was not able to serve as commissioner because of his failure to secure the nod of the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Leonida was appointed to replace Romeo Brawner who died last year.

Leonida has since joined the Philex Mining Group as a member of its board of directors.

Since he is replacing Leonida, Larrazabal will serve only until February 2011 or the remainder of the term of Leonida.

Another Comelec Commissioner, Elias Yusoph, was reappointed by the President last July, just before Congress resumed session, thereby allowing him to perform his duties in the Comelec even without confirmation of the CA.

In the case of Larrazabal, he would have to secure the confirmation of the CA before he can assume his post as commissioner.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said yesterday that the newest commissioner of the poll body is a “welcome addition” to the agency.

“He is very welcome. He is a career guy and very young, I think only 37 years old,” he noted in an interview.

“Now that we are complete, I think (we’ll do things) faster,” he added.

For his part, Larrazabal said he hopes to infuse fresh ideas to the Comelec, especially since the agency would be automating the local and national elections in 2010.

“I was part of the automated elections in 2008 in ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao). I have field experience so that gives a different perspective and hopefully will allow me to give fresh input,” he maintained.

Born in Leyte, Larrazabal graduated from the University of San Carlos.

He joined the Comelec in 2004 and has served as provincial election supervisor of Bulacan, regional director of Bicol and provincial election supervisor of Basilan.

“I have to do my best once confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. I hope to do my best to make sure that the elections next year will be done in a smooth, efficient and orderly manner,” he added.

He will join Melo and commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer, Rene Sarmiento, Armando Velasco, Lucenito Tagle and Yusoph.

 Other appointments

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita also announced yesterday the appointment of Chinese General Hospital chairman Dr. James Dy as the special envoy of the President for medical tourism.

Dy’s appointment comes at a time when the government is aggressively promoting the country as a medical tourism destination.

Ermita also announced the appointment of National Transmission Corp. president and chief executive officer Arthur Aguilar as chairman of the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB).

Aguilar takes over from former Energy secretary Vincent Perez who was appointed as head of the NREB only last April.

The status of Perez was not revealed although he sits on the board of several private corporations. – With Sheila Crisostomo