Retired as an election commissioner, Gregorio Y. Larrazabal will assume a new role as election watchdog as he joins Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) as its vice chairman for external affairs.
The announcement by the PPCRV coincides with election watchdog’s celebration of its 20th anniversary tomorrow.
Larrazabal, 40, was chairman of the Comelec steering committee from 2009 to 2011. The committee oversaw the first ever automated national election in the country in May 2010. He was appointed Comelec commissioner in September 2009 to serve the unexpired term of the late Commissioner Romeo Brawner who died in office. Larrazabal retired in February this year.
He joined the Comelec in 2004 as provincial election supervisor IV in Bulacan. He then served in various capacities as assigned by the Comelec in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Shariff Kabunsuan, as acting regional election director for region V, and regional election director IV for region VIII. Prior to his appointment as Comelec commissioner, Larrazabal was president of the Comelec Regional Election Directors Organization.
‘New day’
He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of San Carlos-Cebu and an M.A. in Philosophy. He also took a special program at the Harvard Law School.
Ambassador Henrietta T. de Villa, PPCRV chairperson, welcomed Larrazabal’s entry as a “new day” for the organization. “His youth and vast experience in elections and election-related matters will be invaluable assets to PPCRV,” De Villa said.
“I am honored and humbled at the same time. This is an opportunity for me to once again be a part of the larger effort to ensure that we have a credible and working electoral system. My decision to join the Comelec seven years ago was borne out of the belief that maintaining the integrity of our electoral system is vital to our democracy. It is for the same reason that I have decided to be part of the PPCRV,” Larrazabal said.
He added that while challenges still lie ahead with respect to ensuring clean, peaceful and orderly elections, he is confident that the PPCRV would be able to carry out its mandate as the duly recognized election watchdog, as it has done so in the past.
PPCRV’s 20th anniversary will be marked by a eucharistic celebration officiated by Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales at the PPCRV headquarters at the Pius XII Catholic Center.