The Commission on Elections (Comelec) disclosed on Wednesday, Dec. 14 the confirmation of the appointments of Commissioners Nelson Celis and Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda, Jr. through the Commission on Appointments (CA).
In a statement sent by Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco, in the committee hearing of CA and in the formal confirmation during the plenary session, Celis and Maceda got the final approval nod which means their ad interim appointment as poll body commissioners are now permanent.
Celis and Maceda are two of the three appointees of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. including Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia.
Due to the confirmation of the appointments of Celis and Maceda, the seven-member Comelec en banc that includes Commissioners Socorro B. Inting, Marlon S. Casquejo, Aimee P. Ferolino and Rey E. Bulay is now complete. Celis and Maceda will serve until Feb. 2, 2029.
"Complete na po not only the en banc but more so the 2 divisions po. Resolution of more cases can be assigned and divided among them po," Laudiangco told reporters.
"Also, administrative and operations phases of the Commission’s mandate can likewise be distributed more evenly, efficiently and effectively, wherein a Commissioner-in-Charge can be designated to head a standing or working committee or a task force," he added.
In a separate statement, Celis extended his heartfelt thanks to the members of the CA for confirming his appointment.
In his speech during the confirmation hearing, Celis, a computer engineer, and a former spokesperson of the Automated Election System (AES) Watch, underscored his commitment to the service of the Filipino voters, in upholding democracy through the free and meaningful exercise of the right to vote, and proper enforcement of election laws.
“Your Honors, while I have only been in office for a mere two months as Commissioner of the Comelec, I have consistently advocated in the last two decades, for the administration and conduct of electoral exercises which are not only modernized, but credible and meaningful,” said Celis.
Celis, also a former columnist in The Manila Times, contributed his technical expertise in crafting provisions of R.A. 9369 which amended R.A. 8436 or the Automated Election System (AES) Law of 1997.
He also served as a consultant of the Comelec and provided technical inputs for the execution of the poll body’s Automation Project with the Philippine Computer Society.
He has also been a resource person of the Congress as well on election-related subjects on several occasions.
“Coming from outside the Commission, I understand the value of truly listening to the voice and the wisdom of our rights-holders, the Filipino voters, in ensuring that we not only innovate and improve our processes and systems, but that as your duty-bearers, we fulfil, promote and protect every Filipino voter’s right to suffrage, and that every electoral exercise is a meaningful exercise of our democracy as a nation,” Celis said.