2 lawyers named new election commissioners

MANILA, Philippines – Two lawyers have been appointed by President Benigno Aquino III to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Thursday.

Lawyer Louie Tito Guia is the acting director of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) while Al Parreno is a board member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda made the announcement Thursday saying Aquino believes the new commissioners “will demonstrate integrity, probity, and independence.”

“The President is confident that in assuming their new positions as Commissioners, they will demonstrate integrity, probity, and independence in the conduct of their duties and further strengthen Comelec in fulfilling its constitutional mandate to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections,” Lacierda said in a statement.

Parreno and Guia will replace commissioners Armando Velasco and Rene Sarmiento who both retired last February 2.

Aquino had previously appointed former Lanao del Norte representative Macabangkit Lanto and election lawyer Bernadette Sardillo. Both however declined the appointment with Lanto citing a previous election case and Sardillo citing personal reasons.