Duterte explains why he appointed Comelec chair Pangarungan, commissioner Garcia

President Duterte has finally revealed his reasons for appointing former Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Saidamen Pangarungan and election lawyer George Garcia as chairperson and commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In an interview with his friend Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Duterte acknowledged that some find his decision to appoint Pangarungan as Comelec chair controversial because they are both graduates of San Beda University.

However, he said that Pangarungan, the second Comelec chairman from Mindanao, is a good lawyer.

"Ini-issue lang nila sa akin diyan because he's from San Beda also. Sa totoo lang hindi ko nakita 'yan (They're making an issue out of it because he's from San Beda also. But in reality, I never met him)," he said Saturday, March 12.

When asked if Pangarungan was the most qualified for the position, Duterte replied affirmatively.

"Oo, abogado... A law graduate ‘yan siya. (Yes, he's a lawyer... He's a law graduate)," he said.

The President said he is expected Pangarungan to make some statements about the Comelec issues, including the supposed printing of ballots without witnesses or the poll body's partnership with online news organization Rappler.

"I don't know what would be the decision of the new chairman. They are embroiled in this thing, so I'm sure that he would have something to say," he said.

"He's a Maranao. He's good. He's a lawyer, at saka marami na itong dinaanan na sa gobyerno (and he's been with the government for a long time)," he added.

Pangarungan was an Interior undersecretary during the administration of the late former President Corazon Aquino.

Before he was appointed Comelec chair, he was the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos chief.

Garcia's appointment

Meanwhile, President Duterte said that appointing poll lawyer George Garcia as one of the new Comelec commissioners is a "neutral decision."

"Would you believe it? He's a neutral choice para sa akin... He has always been the lawyer of the late Boy Nograles (former House Speaker Prospero Nograles). Ever since iyan ang sa kabila, eh (he's the opposition)," he said.

"Siya 'yung nasa kabila. Pero siya 'yung in-appoint ko. Wala akong sinabihan. Sinabi ko lang dito sa isip ko para wala kayong masabi. Eh abugado ninyo 'yan, eh (He's always been at the opposition but I appointed him. I never told anybody. In my mind, I said I did it so that people will not have anything to say. He's their lawyer)," he added.

Garcia was the lawyer of presidential aspirant Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when he ran for vice president in 2016. His other past clients include current presidentiables Senators Emmanuel 'Manny' Pacquiao and Panfilo Lacson. He also represented Senator Grace Poe when she faced disqualification in the 2016 presidential race.