2 new Comelec execs can’t assume office yet

Newly appointed Comelec commissioner Atty. Luie Guia (left) paid a courtesy call to the other Comelec commissioners Friday ahead of his formal assumption into office. MATIKAS SANTOS/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Newly appointed Commission on Election (Comelec) commissioners Al Pareno and Luie Guia have yet to assume their office due to a few minor problems, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Tuesday.

Brillantes said that Guia’s first name in his appointment papers was misspelled as “Louie” and so it was returned to Malacañang to be corrected.

“He cannot take the oath until they give the new appointment [papers] with the correct name,” he told reporters.

Guia is the executive director of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) at the time of his appointment.

With regards to Pareno, Brillantes said that he could not yet leave his post as board member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) because it would leave the board with just one member and effectively paralyze the agency.

LTFRB chairman Jaime Jacob had resigned last March 2013 leaving only Ronaldo Corpuz and Pareno in the agency.

“If he leaves, the LTFRB cannot run … so they are still awaiting for the new appointee to replace him then he can assume the office here, that will be within the week,” Brillantes said.