IT’S BUSINESS as usual at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices in Cebu.
Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, the Cebu Provincial Election Officer, said controversies now being faced by Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista will not in any way affect their operations.
Majority or a total of 137 members of the House of Representatives voted to impeach Bautista on Wednesday, shortly after he also tendered his resignation as Comelec chairman.
Bautista’s resignation takes effect on December 31, 2017.
“These recent developments cannot affect our engagements and transactions here in the province. The organizational structure of Comelec was made in a way that no person is indispensable. The President cannot (also) appoint without vacancy,” Castillano said in an interview with reporters on Thursday.
In order to ensure continuity of their service, Castillano said President Rodrigo Duterte should be able to name Bautista’s replacement immediately after he vacates his post.
“We needed a chairperson because administratively, all election supervisors and officers are under the chairperson. While the Comelec en banc is tasked to implement and create policies and regulations, the chairperson has the responsibility for appointments within the commission and disbursement of funds,” Castillano said.