CA confirms Tangaro-Casingal, Pipo as new Comelec commissioners

On Tuesday, the Commission on Appointments confirmed the ad interim appointments of Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal and Noli Rafol Pipo as new Comelec commissioners, along with 84 senior officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Tangaro-Casingal and Pipo were approved by the CA plenary after being endorsed by Senator Cynthia Villar's Committee on Constitutional Commissions and Offices following a hearing where they addressed issues from the recent May 12 polls and opposition to their appointments.

During the committee hearing, Tangaro-Casingal faced opposition from Rogelio Rabanal over her handling of his certificate of candidacy for the 2022 elections but received support from lawmakers who criticized Rabanal's conduct.

Tangaro-Casingal, a career Comelec official with extensive experience in election oversight since 1998, will serve a full seven-year term expiring in February 2032, while Pipo, who began his career as an election officer in 1993, also received approval for the same term.

Both nominees expressed their commitment to upholding free and orderly elections despite facing opposition from Duterte Youth party-list chairperson Ronald Cardema.