PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong’” R. Marcos Jr. has appointed former Comelec Commissioner George M. Garcia to become the new chairman of the poll body.
“The president has appointed Mr. George M. Garcia as Chairman of the Commission on Elections. He has submitted Mr. Garcia’s name to the Commission on Appointments [CA] as required by law,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said on Monday.
Garcia, who once served as the legal counsel of Marcos, among several other high-profile politicians, was among the Comelec officials appointed by former President Rodrigo R. Duterte, but who failed to secure the CA’s approval at its last session in June.
At that time, lawmakers wanted to give Marcos the leeway to pick the newly appointed officials in Comelec and other government agencies.
Another new Marcos appointee was Medardo De Lemos, who will now formally serve as director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Prior to the said designation, de Lemos was the officer-in-charge of the Bureau.
“Director de Lemos rose from the ranks and his appointment as NBI Director is a strong indication of President Marcos’ commitment in strengthening the system of ‘meritocracy’ in the promotion, placement and hiring of government personnel,” Angeles said.