2 career Comelec execs appointed commissioners

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has named two insiders as replacements for two newly retired commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as the poll body gears up for the campaign period for this year’s midterm polls.

The appointment of long-time election officials Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal and Noli Rafol Pipo as commissioners was confirmed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin yesterday.

Their appointment was announced a day before the start of the campaign period for national candidates and party-list representatives.

Casingal, who has been with the Comelec for more than two decades, is a former Comelec law director. She replaced retired poll commissioner Socorro Inting.

Pipo, who started as an election officer III in Bangued, Abra in 1993, takes over the position of retired commissioner Marlon Casquejo. Before the appointment, Pipo was the regional election director in Ilocos.

The two were issued ad interim appointments because Congress is not in session.

“She took her oath of office before yours truly so she can dispose the power and functions immediately of the Commissioner,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said of Casingal.

Garcia thanked President Marcos for granting the Comelec’s request for the immediate appointment of “an insider” to replace Inting.

Former Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said Marcos made a “very good choice” in appointing  Casingal.

Pipo will take his oath of office tomorrow and will be assigned as a member of the Comelec Second Division. His ad interim appointment is valid until the resumption of Congress in June.

Meanwhile, President Marcos has named Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Luis Meinrado Pangulayan as commissioner of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

Pangulayan’s appointment was ad interim, as Congress is on break. Malacañang will submit his nomination papers to the Commission on Appointments when Congress resumes session on June 2.

Pangulayan, who replaced Aileen Lizada, will serve as CSC commissioner until Feb. 2, 2032. His appointment paper was signed on Feb. 10.

Prior to his new appointment, Pangulayan was undersecretary for policy, planning and research at the Department of Agrarian Reform.

In November 2022, Marcos appointed Pangulayan as director of the Career Executive Service Board. — Mayen Jaymalin, Helen Flores