Expect President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint new commissioners in the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) "soon," according to acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles, as the poll body remains undermanned after the retirement of three commissioners.
Without mentioning a timeframe, Nograles said that "soon the president will make the appointment" of new COMELEC commissioners, adding that Duterte is still choosing from a list of candidates.
"The president is still selecting from the list of candidates. May vetting process po 'yan," he said during Friday's press briefing.
(The president is still selecting from the list of candidates. There is a vetting process for that.)
The spokesperson said Duterte knows the importance of appointing new commissioners, and he would soon come out with a decision after a thorough assessment.
"The president knows the importance and urgency also of appointing these very important officials," he said. "Pero lalabas na rin 'yan. May listahan na vinevet."
(The president knows the importance and urgency also of appointing these very important officials. But it will come out. There is a list under vetting.)
The poll body is down three people after the retirement of COMELEC Chairman Sheriff Abas and Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Antonio Kho, Jr., with just a couple of months ahead of the May elections.
Currently, Commissioner Socorro Inting is the acting chairman of the poll body while Duterte decides on new appointees.
