Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan raised a “serious concern” over the appointment of George Garcia to the Commission on Elections.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Garcia, a high-profile lawyer, as the poll body’s new commissioner.
Garcia was the lawyer of then vice presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. when the latter filed an election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo in 2016.
Marcos is facing Robredo anew, this time in the fight for the presidency in the upcoming May 9 elections.
Pangilinan said Garcia has no choice but to be professional about his new role.
“I believe he can do it. Actually, he should do it for the sake of his name, his reputation as well as that of his family,” said Pangilinan, who is seeking the vice presidency under the Liberal Party.
“The proof of the pudding is in the eating. If there is a will, there is a way. If he wants to be remembered well as one of the best election law practitioners, then he should perform to the best of his ability and be true to his oath to decide objectively based on facts and the truth.”
He reminded Garcia that if one is no longer a lawyer and is now a “judge,” he should be objective in making a decision and be willing to inhibit in cases where he cannot decide objectively.