FAMILIAR FACE | Palace confident on Duterte’s fraternity brother as new Comelec commissioner

November 12, 2021 , 02:33 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(November 12, 2021) – The Malacañang welcomed the appointment of Manila chief prosecutor Rey Bulay, the fraternity brother of President Rodrigo Duterte, as the new commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Bulay, an alumnus of San Beda Law School, will assume the post until February 2, 2027 if he would get the approval of the Commission on Appointments.

“We are confident that Atty. Bulay will ensure the conduct of honest, orderly, credible, and peaceful elections. We wish Atty. Bulay all the best in his new assignment,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque in a statement on Thursday.

Comelec chairperson Sheriff Abas also welcomed the appointment of Bulas as they prepare for the 2022 elections. Bulay will fill the vacant position left by former Comelec commissioner Luie Guia who retired in February 2020, along with Al Parreño.

Three members of the Comelec en banc will also retire by February next year, namely Abas, Rowena Guanzon, and Antonio Kho. It will give Duterte a chance to fill the Comelec with his appointees before the polls.

The other current Comelec commissioners— Soccoro Inting, Marlon Casquejo, and Aimee Ferolino—are all from Davao City, Duterte’s hometown.

“His (Bulay) vast experience in law enforcement and the pursuit of good governance will greatly contribute to the Commission’s thrust in the advancement of honest, orderly, peaceful, credible, and safe elections,” said Abas in a statement.

Bulay was a member of the Lex Talionis Fraternitas like Duterte when he was completing his law degree. He was the chief prosecutor of Manila since July 2020 before Duterte elevated him to the Comelec.

Bulay entered the political scene in 1988 as a councilor of Muntinlupa, serving three consecutive terms. In the past, he led the Councilors League of the Philippines.

Bulay also became a commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government—an agency tasked to recover the ill-gotten wealth that the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., his family, and cronies accumulated during their heavy-handed rule.

Former senator Bongbong Marcos Jr., the late dictator’s son, wants to bring back his family to Malacañang next year by running for president. But he is facing complaints seeking to cancel his certificate of candidacy over alleged false material representation concerning his tax-related conviction.

Kontra Daya, an election watchdog, questioned the appointment of Bulay due to his unclear track record when it comes to election lawyering and related advocacies.

Civic groups are also pushing for the live broadcast of appointment hearings of Comelec commissioners so the public can scrutinize them well.

“We are the principals, they are our agents. We have the right to know who are being brought into the government to exercise its functions,” said former Comelec chairperson Christian Monsod.

(PM)

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