MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday approved the nomination of Rey Bulay as commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Bulay, an election lawyer, unanimously got the nod of senators and congressmen during a bicameral meeting of the CA panel on constitutional commissions and offices.
He replaced former Comelec commissioner Luie Tito Guia, who retired in February last year.
Bulay will serve as poll commissioner until Feb. 2, 2027.
President Duterte nominated Bulay to the Comelec.
In sponsoring his nomination, Sen. Cynthia Villar, who chairs the CA panel, cited Bulay’s 40-year experience as a politician, legal practitioner and businessman.
“A commissioner of his caliber is what the Comelec needs given the pressing challenges of preparing for the upcoming 2022 elections brought by the pandemic,” Villar said.
During the CA committee meeting, Sen. Panfilo Lacson questioned Bulay’s appointment to the poll body.
Lacson asked Bulay who recommended him to the post and his views on the so-called “cue server,” which was introduced in the 2016 elections.
Lacson said there seemed to be no transparency in the cue server because the room is exclusive to some foreign consultants of poll supplier Smartmatic.
Bulay said he applied for the post when he found out that there was an opening in the Comelec.
He said the current system includes safeguards for the vote counting machines and the cue server is no longer included in the system.
Bulay served as councilor of Muntinlupa from 1988 to 1998 and from 2007 to 2010.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they welcomed the confirmation of Bulay.