If ever he will be given the chance to serve the public again, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said on Wednesday, June 1 that he will choose the poll body 10 times.

He made the statement after the Commission on Appointments (CA) bypassed the appointments of five nominees of the Duterte administration. Together with Garcia were Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan and Commissioner Aimee Torrefranca-Neri.
In a press briefing, Garcia stated that even in the future, he will be "born again", he will choose Comelec as the agency where he will serve because it is the agency of "professional people".
"Sabi ko nga po sa inyo, sila ang hinahamak, sila yung inaalipusta, sila yung laging minamaliit pero sila ang nagdedeliver sa atin...Lagi nilang sinisigurado na ang mga pinuno na mahahalal natin ay sadyang mga pinuno base sa mga balota na hinulog niyo sa ating mga ballot boxes (As I have told you, they're the ones that are shamed, they're the ones that are insulted, they're the ones that are looked down on but they're the ones...that ensure that the officials we elect are the leaders that you voted for)," he explained.
"Okay na lang po itong nangyari sa amin. Tinatanggap na lang po nang maluwag sa kalooban (We're okay with what happened to us. We accept it wholeheartedly)," he added.
Garcia mentioned that he's just being comforted by the fact that the Comelec is in capable hands under the four commissioners that were left. They are Commissioners Socorro Inting, Marlon Casquejo, Aimee Ferolino and Rey Bulay.
He said that life will have to go on in Comelec and at the same time, the work will have to proceed.
Meanwhile, Garcia said that he will have to look at his options as he leaves Comelec. He stated that he will either still pursue being an election practitioner or be part of the academe as a professor.
Other nominees bypassed by the CA were Rizalina Novel Justol as Commission on Audit (COA) chairman; and Karlo Nograles, as Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairman.