IT will be an all-female First Division and an all-male Second Division at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
This was after the Comelec en banc finished its deliberations on the composition of its two Divisions a week after the seven-man panel was completed.
According to Comelec Commissioner George Garcia, the First Division will be presided by Commissioner Socorro Inting with Commissioners Aimee Ferolino and Aimee Neri as members while Garcia and Commissioner Rey Bulay will serve as members of the Second Division with Commissioner Marlon Casquejo presiding.
President Duterte appointed Saidamen Pangarungan as Comelec chairman, and with Neri and Garcia as commissioners on March 8.
Prior to the inclusion of Neri in the First Division, Inting was its designated presiding commissioner while Ferolino is the member. Casquejo was presiding commissioner of the Second Division with Bulay as member, prior to Garcia’s inclusion.
The Commission sits in two divisions in handling election cases and pre-proclamation controversies.
In a press conference, Pangarungan said the en banc has committed to expedite the resolution of all pending cases.
On the part of the Comelec en banc, Pangarungan said they agreed to prioritize those that are seeking exemption to the rule against the release of public funds.
“The pending petitions for exemption on fund releases, we will expedite them, particularly those for the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health because they are necessary due to the pandemic,” said Pangarungan.
