Commission on Elections (Philippines)

Commission on Elections
Komisyon ng Halalan

Established:	August 22, 1940
Chairman:	Atty. Sixto Brillantes
Website:	comelec.gov.ph

Philippines

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The Commission on Elections, or COMELEC, is one of the three constitutional commissions of the Philippines. Its principal role is to enforce all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections, initiatives, referendums, and recalls.

Functions of the Commission

Under the Constitution, the Commission on Elections is independent of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of the Philippine Government. It has the following functions:

Judicial functions

• to exercise exclusive jurisdictions over all contests relating to the elections, returns, and qualifications of all elective regional, provincial and city officials and appellate jurisdiction over all contests involving all municipal officials decided by trial courts of general jurisdiction;
• to decide, except those involving the right to vote, all questions affecting elections, including determination of the number and location of polling places, appointment of election officials and inspectors, and registration of voters;
• to file petitions in court for inclusion or exclusion of voters; and
• to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute cases of violations of election laws, including acts or omissions constituting election fraud, offenses and malpractices.

Ministerial functions

• To enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of and elections, plebiscites, initiatives, referendum, and recalls.
• to deputize, with the concurrence of the President of the Philippines, law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the Government, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, for the exclusive purpose of ensuring free, orderly, honest, peaceful credible elections;
• to register political parties, organizations or coalitions and accredit citizens' arms of the Commission.

Reportorial function

• To submit to the President and the Congress a comprehensive report on the conduct of each election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, or recall.

Recommendatory functions

• To recommend to Congress the enactment of effective measures to minimize election spending including limitation of places where propaganda materials shall be posted, and to prevent and penalize all forms of election frauds, offenses, malpractices, and nuisance candidates; and
• to recommend to the President the removal of any officer of employee it has deputized, or the imposition of any other disciplinary action, for violation or disregard of, or disobedience to its directive, order, or decision.

Other functions

• To perform other functions as may be provided by law, including fiscal autonomy.

Organizational structure

The old Comelec building after being razed by fire on March 11, 2007.

The Commission Proper is the policy-making body composed of the Chairman and six Commissioners who must be natural-born citizens of the Philippines; at least thirty-five years of age at the time of their appointment; holders of a college degree, with a majority of them, including the Chairman, members of the Philippine Bar who have been engaged in the practice of law for at least ten (10) years; and must not have been a candidate for any elective position in the immediate preceding elections [Article IX-C, Section 1, 1987 Constitution]. The Chairman and the Commissioners are appointed by the President, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments.n They hold office for seven years, without reappointment.

The Commissioners exercise quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial functions either en banc or in division. They also perform such other functions as may be assigned by the Commission or the Chairman.

The Chairman acts as the Presiding Officer and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission. He directs and supervises the operations and internal administration of the Commission in accordance with its policies, rules and regulations.

Offices of the Commission

Assisting the Commission are the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Directors for Administration and Operations, nine Department offices, 17 Regional Election Directors, 81 Provincial Election Supervisors and Election Officers in cities and municipalities. Comelec has a complement of more than 5,000 employees.

History

The 1978 Commission is composed of [from left] Commissioners Flores A. Bayot, Venancio Duque, Chairman Leonardo Perez, Commissioners Domingo Pabalete and Vicente Santiago (not in the photo).

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) was created by a 1940 amendment to the 1935 Constitution of the Philippines. Before the creation of the Comelec, supervision over the conduct of elections was vested by law in the Secretary of Interior. The Secretary of Interior saw to it that local authorities performed the ministerial duties assigned to them by the Election Code. He decides administrative questions concerning elections. The courts, however, exercised exclusive and final jurisdiction over questions affecting the right to vote as well as contested elections of local elective officials. Elections contests involving members of the National Assembly were judged solely by an Electoral Commission composed of three justices of the Supreme Court and six members of the National Assembly.

In view, however, of the close official ties between the President and the Secretary of Interior, there was always the danger of a partisan Secretary of the Interior exploiting his powers and influence to ensure the victory of his party at the polls.

As a consequence, the Constitution was amended in 1940 to create an independent Commission on Elections, composed of a Chairman and two other members, to take over the functions of the Secretary of the Interior relative to the elections. but since the amendments could not be effective in time for the 1940 elections, the National Assembly, by Commonwealth Act No. 607, created a Commission on Elections, giving thereto the same powers which the Commission on Elections could have under the amended Constitution. The statutory Commission supervised the conduct of the December 10, 1940 local elections.

The constitutional amendment creating the Commission on Elections was finally approved on December 2, 1940. On June 21, 1941, Commonwealth Act No. 657 was enacted reorganizing the Commission on Elections as a constitutional entity. The members of the statutory Commission continued as members of the constitutional Commission.

The Chairman and Members of the Commission had a fixed term of nine years each - a member being replaced every three years except in the first Commission. They could be removed from office only by impeachment. They were provided with fixed salaries which could neither be increased nor diminished during their term of office. These were safeguards to ensure the independence of the Commission.

The administrative control of elections exercised by the Secretary of Interior was transferred to the Commission on Elections. The Commission was vested with the exclusive charge of enforcing and administering all laws relative to elections and power to decide all questions affecting elections, except those involving the right to vote, which were left to final judicial determination. The courts and electoral tribunals retained their original powers over election contests.

The 1973 Constitution enlarged the membership of the Commission from three to nine members but reduced their term of office from nine years to seven years. As in the 1935 Constitution, the Chairman and Commissioners have staggered terms of office and could be removed from office only by impeachment.

First to serve in the Commission on Elections under the 1973 Constitution were former Senator Leonardo B. Perez, as Chairman, and Venacio S. Duque, Flores A. Bayot, Jose M. Mendoza, Fernando R. Veloso, Lininding Pangandaman, Venancio L. Yaneza and Casimiro R. Madarang, Jr. as Commissioners. Commissioner Pangandaman, the first Muslim Commissioner of the Comelec, was appointed Ambassador by President Ferdinand Marcos even before the expiration of his term. His unexpired term was taken over by Commissioner Hashim R. Abubakar.

On May 17, 1980, Chairman Perez (who was later appointed Minister on Political Affairs by President Marcos) and Commissioners Duque and Bayot, after completing their seven-years term, retired. Commissioner Santiago succeeded Perez, and the following were appointed Commissioners: Domingo C. Pabalete; Victorino A. Savellano; Jaime C. Opinion; Noli Sagadraca; Romeo Firme: Luis Lardizabal and Ide C. Tillah. With Commissioner Lardizabal the membership of the Commission was thus increased to eight, one short of the full complement of nine.

Upon the retirement of Commissioners Firme, Tillah and Lardizabal on May 17, 1983 the Commission on Elections was composed of only five members.

On March 21, 1983, two new members were appointed by President Marcos, namely: Froilan Bacungan and Ramon H. Felipe, Jr.

With the retirement of Chairman Santiago and Commissioners Pabalete and Sagadraca on May 17, 1984, Savellano was appointed Chairman.

Three new members were appointed on July 27, 1985, namely: Commissioners Quirino A. Marquinez, Mangontawar Guro and Mario D. Ortiz.

On January 31, 1986 Commissioners Ruben C. Agpalo and Jaime Layosa were appointed to finally complete the required membership of nine.

After the tumultuous February 7, 1986 snap elections and the People Power Revolution, Chairman Savellano and all the Commissioners of the Comelec tendered their courtesy resignations which, except those of Commissioners Bacungan and Felipe, were accepted by President Corazon C. Aquino.

On April 11, 1986 Commissioner Felipe was appointed Acting Chairman. On July 23, 1986 he took his oath of office as permanent Chairman, together with Commissioners Leopoldo Africa, Haydee Yorac, Andres Flores, Anacleto Badoy, and Dario Rama as members of the "new" Commission on Elections.

On February 15, 1988 Hilario G. Davide, Jr., was appointed Chairman with Alfredo E. Abueg, Jr., Haydee B. Yorac, Leopoldo L. Africa, Andres R. Flores, Dario C. Rama and Magdara B. Dimaampao as Commissioners. Commissioner Haydee B. Yorac was appointed as Acting Chairman when Hilario G. Davide, Jr. was appointed Chairman of the Presidential Fact Finding Commission in December 1989, pursuant to Administrative Order No. 146.

On June 6, 1991 Christian Monsod was appointed by President Aquino as Chairman of the Commission to serve the unexpired term of Davide.

When Monsod retired on February 15, 1995 President Fidel V. Ramos appointed Court of Appeals Justice Bernardo Pardo as Chairman of the Commission. Pardo's term was cut short when he was appointed by President Joseph Estrada as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court in October 1998. Commissioner Luzviminda Tancangco was appointed Acting Chairman of the Commission.

On January 11, 1999 President Estrada appointed Sandiganbayan Justice Harriet Demetriou as Chairman of the Commission. After the events of January 2001 that led to the ouster of President Estrada from power, Demetriou tendered her courtesy resignation which was accepted by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

On February 19, 2001 President Arroyo appointed Justice Alfredo Benipayo as Chairman of the Commission. However, the Commission on Appointments did not confirm his appointment due to opposition of some Commissioners led by Luzviminda Tancangco. On June 5, 2002 President Arroyo appointed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman and former Mandaluyong City mayor Benjamin S. Abalos, Sr. to replace Benipayo.

On January 26, 2008, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed former Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Melo, 77, to replace Chair Abalos.^[1] The United Opposition (Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino) opposed Melo's appointment.^[2] But Melo needs to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA), so Commissioner Romeo A. Brawner was appointed ad interim Acting Chairman on February 2, 2008 and will stay as Chairman until Melo is confirmed by the CA.

On March 25, 2008, former Supreme Court justice Jose Melo was sworn in as new chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) by acting Chair Romeo A. Brawner. Melo's ad interim appointment (Congress is not in session) was sent by the Malacañan to the Commission on Appointments.^[3]

On May 29, 2008, Romeo A. Brawner died from a massive heart attack. Brawner, appointed to the Comelec to replace the controversial Virgilio Garcillano, was supposed to end his term on February 2, 2011.^[4]

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, on July 2, 2008, appointed former Acting Judge (Br. 74, RTC, Malabon) Leonardo Leonida and retired Justice of the Court of Appeals Lucenito Tagle as Commissioners of the Commission on Elections.^[5][6] On November 7, 2008, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appointed Armando Velasco, as new election commissioner, and reappointed bypassed Commissioners Leonardo L. Leonida and Lucenito N. Tagle.^[7] Eduardo Ermita stated "Velasco replaced Comelec commissioner and former Iligan City Judge Moslemen Macarambon, Jr. whose appointment had been bypassed several times by the Commission on Appointments (CA)."^[8][9]

Impeachment complaint

On September 27, 2007, Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico filed a 64-page impeachment complaint (3:00 p.m.) against Commission on Elections chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr. before the House of Representatives of the Philippines regarding the ZTE national broadband network (NBN) deal. It was endorsed by Representatives Teofisto Guingona III of Bukidnon and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna (People First), and Zamboanga City Representative Ma. Isabelle Climaco. Affidavits of Romulo Neri and Jose de Venecia III supported the complaint.^[10][11] On October 1, 2007, COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Sr. faced with an impending impeachment case resigned in a press conference. The Commission on Elections appointed Resurreccion Z. Borra as Acting Chairman. Mr. Abalos stated: "I'm resigning... effective immediately," Mr. Abalos told a news conference. "However, let not my detractors feast on this declaration. I'm not admitting guilt for any wrongdoing."^[12] An impeachment complaint against Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr was formally filed before the House of Representatives after Romulo Neri, former chief of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda), accused Abalos of attempting to bribe him.

Issues

ZTE broadband contract controversy

In August 2007, Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Carlos Padilla delivered a privilege speech alleging that Abalos brokered for the national broadband network (NBN) project. Padilla claimed that Abalos met with officials of the Chinese firm ZTE Corp., which got the US $329 million contract for the broadband project.

Abalos denied brokering for the National Broadband Network project despite admitting he knows some officials in ZTE Corp. He admitted making four trips to China and playing golf there. He also admitted that ZTE officials, whom he says are his golf buddies, hosted and paid for the trips.

Jose de Venecia III, son of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr, alleged that Abalos offered him US$10 million to withdraw his proposal on the NBN project. De Venecia is a majority shareholder of Amsterdam Holdings Inc., a company that submitted an unsolicited proposal on the NBN project. De Venecia also claimed that Abalos asked for money from the ZTE Corp. officials.

Hello Garci

Abalos was mentioned in the "Hello Garci" tape, which refers to the alleged wiretapped conversations where vote rigging in the 2004 elections was discussed by, among others, a woman presumed to be President Arroyo and man presumed to be Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano.

Mega Pacific

Abalos was the Comelec chair when the election body approved a P1.3-billion contract with the Mega Pacific Consortium for the purchase of automated counting machines, which the Supreme Court in January 2004 declared as void because of "clear violation of law and jurisprudence" and "reckless disregard of [Comelec's] own bidding rules and procedure."

On January 21, 2004, Pimentel filed criminal and administrative charges before the Ombudsman against Abalos and other commissioners in connection with the deal. Abalos described the charges as a "demolition job."

Pimentel accused Abalos and the other commissioners of committing an act of impropriety when they and their wives traveled to Seoul, South Korea to visit the plant of the maker of the counting machines a few months before the bidding for the contract started. Pimentel said he received information that the Korean company paid for the plane tickets and hotel accommodations for the trip.

However, Abalos claimed that the expenses for the trip were paid for out of the P1 million he won in a golf tournament in Wack Wack.

On September 27, 2006, the Ombudsman, in a resolution, absolved all respondents involved in the Mega Pacific controversy of all administrative and criminal liabilities "for lack of probable cause." It also reversed its June 28 resolution which contained factual findings that can be used by the House of Representatives to initiate impeachment proceedings against Comelec Commissioner Resureccion Borra.

Members of the Commission (1940-present)

Year	Name	Term
1940	Pedro Concepcion, Chairman Jose C. Abreu Rufino Luna	September 1, 1940 May 11, 1941 September 1, 1940-October 11, 1944 September 12, 1940-July 12, 1945
1941	Jose Lopez Vito, Chairman Jose C. Abreu Rufino Luna	May 13, 1941 May 7, 1947 July 12, 1945-November 9, 1949 September 12, 1940-July 12, 1945
1945	Jose Lopez Vito, Chairman Francisco Enage Vicente de Vera	May 13, 1941 May 7, 1947 September 1, 1940-October 11, 1944 July 12, 1945-April 8, 1947
1947	Vicente de Vera, Chairman Leopoldo Rovira Rodrigo Perez, Jr.	April 9, 1947-April 10, 1951 May 22, 1947-September 10, 1954 December 8, 1949-June 21, 1956
1951	Domingo Imperial, Chairman Leopoldo Rovira Rodrigo Perez, Jr.	August 14, 1951-March 31, 1958 May 22, 1947-September 10, 1954 December 8, 1949-June 21, 1956
1955	Domingo Imperial, Chairman Rodrigo Perez, Jr. Gaudencio Garcia	August 14, 1951-March 31, 1958 December 8, 1949-June 21, 1956 May 18, 1955 May 11, 1960
1956	Domingo Imperial, Chairman Gaudencio Garcia Sixto Brillantes	August 14, 1951-March 31, 1958 May 18, 1955 May 11, 1960 December 20, 1956-June 20, 1965
1958	Jose P. Carag, Chairman Gaudencio Garcia Sixto Brillantes	May 19, 1958-June 20, 1959 May 18, 1955 May 11, 1960 December 20, 1956-June 20, 1965
1958	Gaudencio Garcia, Chairman Sixto Brillantes Genaro Visarra	May 12, 1960-June 20, 1962 December 20, 1956-June 20, 1965 May 12, 1960-November 10, 1962
1958	Juan V. Borra, Chairman Sixto Brillantes Genaro Visarra Cesar Miraflor	August 2, 1962-June 20, 1968 December 20, 1956-June 20, 1965 May 12, 1960-November 10, 1962 November 11, 1962-June 20, 1971
1962	Juan V. Borra, Chairman Sixto Brillantes Genaro Visarra Cesar Miraflor	August 2, 1962-June 20, 1968 December 20, 1956-June 20, 1965 May 12, 1960-November 10, 1962 November 11, 1962-June 20, 1971
1965	Juan V. Borra, Chairman Cesar Miraflor Gregorio Santayana	August 2, 1962-June 20, 1968 November 11, 1962-June 20, 1971 June 26, 1965 May 31, 1966
1966	Juan V. Borra, Chairman Cesar Miraflor Francisco Ortega	August 2, 1962-June 20, 1968 November 11, 1962-June 20, 1971 December 25, 1966-March 20, 1967
1967	Juan V. Borra, Chairman Cesar Miraflor Manuel Arranz	August 2, 1962-June 20, 1968 November 11, 1962-June 20, 1971 August 27, 1967-October 17, 1968
1968	Manuel Arranz, Chairman Cesar Miraflor Jaime N. Ferrer	October 18, 1968-June 2, 1969 November 11, 1962-June 20, 1971 May 23, 1969-June 9, 1969
1969	Jaime N. Ferrer, Chairman Cesar Miraflor Lino M. Patajo	June 10, 1969 May 28, 1973 November 11, 1962-June 20, 1971 June 16, 1969 May 31, 1973
1971	Jaime N. Ferrer, Chairman Lino M. Patajo Jose M. Mendoza	June 10, 1969 May 28, 1973 June 16, 1969 May 31, 1973 September 6, 1971 May 17, 1976
1973	Leonardo B. Perez, Chairman Jose M. Mendoza Venancio S. Duque Flores A. Bayot Venancio L. Yaneza Casimiro R. Madarang,Jr. Fernando R. Veloso Liningding Pangandaman	May 29, 1973 May 17, 1980 September 6, 1971 May 17, 1976 June 1, 1973 May 17, 1980 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1980 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1978 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1978 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1978 May 30, 1973-November 15, 1973
1974	Leonardo B. Perez, Chairman Jose M. Mendoza Venancio S. Duque Flores A. Bayot Venancio L. Yaneza Casimiro R. Madarang,Jr. Fernando R. Veloso Hashim R. Abubakar	May 29, 1973 May 17, 1980 September 6, 1971 May 17, 1976 June 1, 1973 May 17, 1980 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1980 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1978 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1978 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1976 July 25, 1974 May 17, 1976
1976	Leonardo B. Perez, Chairman Venancio S. Duque Flores A. Bayot Venancio L. Yaneza Casimiro R. Madarang,Jr.	May 29, 1973 May 17, 1980 June 1, 1973 May 17, 1980 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1980 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1978 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1978
1978	Leonardo B. Perez, Chairman Venancio S. Duque Flores A. Bayot Venancio L. Yaneza Vicente M. Santiago, Jr. Domingo C. Pabalate	May 29, 1973 May 17, 1980 June 1, 1973 May 17, 1980 May 30, 1973 May 17, 1980 May 18, 1978 May 17, 1983 May 17, 1978 May 17, 1980 May 17, 1980 May 20, 1985
1980	Vicente M. Santiago, Jr., Chairman Domingo C. Pabalate Victorino A. Savellano Jaime C. Opinion Noli M. Sagadraca Romeo N. Firme. Ide C. Tillah Luis L. Lardizabal	May 17, 1980 May 17, 1985 May 17, 1980 May 20, 1985 May 17, 1980-April 1, 1986 May 17, 1980 May 17, 1985 May 17, 1980 May 17, 1983 May 17, 1980 May 17, 1983 May 17, 1980 May 17, 1983
1983	Vicente M. Santiago, Jr., Chairman Domingo C. Pabalate Victorino A. Savellano Jaime C. Opinion Noli M. Sagadraca	May 17, 1980 May 17, 1985 May 17, 1980 May 20, 1985 May 17, 1980 May 20, 1985 May 17, 1980-April 1, 1986 May 17, 1980 May 17, 1985
1984	Vicente M. Santiago, Jr., Chairman Domingo C. Pabalate Victorino A. Savellano Jaime C. Opinion Noli M. Sagadraca Froilan M. Bacungan Ramon H. Felipe, Jr.	May 17, 1980 May 17, 1985 May 17, 1980 May 20, 1985 May 17, 1980 May 20, 1985 May 17, 1980-April 1, 1986 May 17, 1980 May 17, 1985 March 21, 1984-August 31, 1986 March 21, 1984-Apr.11,1986
1985	Victorino A. Savellano, Chairman Jaime C. Opinion Froilan M. Bacungan Ramon H. Felipe, Jr. Mario D. Ortiz Quirino A. Marquinez Mangontawar B. Guro	May 20, 1985-March 24, 1986 May 17, 1980-April 1, 1986 March 21, 1984-August 31, 1986 March 21, 1984-Apr.11,1986 July 30, 1985-July 23, 1986 August 1, 1985-July 23, 1986 July 30, 1985-April 11, 1986
1986	Victorino A. Savellano, Chairman Jaime C. Opinion Froilan M. Bacungan Ramon H. Felipe, Jr. Mario D. Ortiz Quirino A. Marquinez Mangontawar B. Guro Ruben Agpalo Jaime J. Layosa	May 20, 1985-March 24, 1986 May 17, 1980-April 1, 1986 March 21, 1984-August 31, 1986 March 21, 1984-Apr.11,1986 July 30, 1985-July 23, 1986 August 1, 1985-July 23, 1986 July 30, 1985-April 11, 1986 January 2, 1986-July 23, 1986 January 2, 1986-July 23, 1986
1986	Ramon H. Felipe, Jr., Chairman Froilan M. Bacungan Leopoldo L. Africa Haydee B. Yorac 4 Anacleto D. Badoy, Jr. Andres R. Flores Dario C. Rama Tomas V. dela Cruz	July 11, 1986-February 3, 1988 March 21, 1984-August 31, 1986 July 14, 1986-February 15, 1991 July 15, 1986-February 11, 1993 July 16, 1986-February 3, 1988 July 17, 1986-February 15, 1991 July 18, 1986-February 15, 1993 December 11, 1986-September 13, 1987
1987	Ramon H. Felipe, Jr., Chairman Leopoldo L. Africa Haydee B. Yorac Anacleto D. Badoy, Jr. Andres R. Flores Dario C. Rama Tomas V. dela Cruz Alfredo E. Abueg, Jr.	July 11, 1986-February 3, 1988 July 14, 1986-February 15, 1991 July 15, 1986-February 11, 1993 July 16, 1986-February 3, 1988 July 17, 1986-February 15, 1991 July 18, 1986-February 15, 1993 December 11, 1986-September 13, 1987 December 16, 1987-November 3, 1994
1988	Hilario Davide, Jr., Chairman Leopoldo L. Africa Haydee B. Yorac Andres R. Flores Dario C. Rama Alfredo E. Abueg, Jr. Magdara B. Dimaampao	February 15, 1988-December 7, 1989 July 14, 1986-February 15, 1991 July 15, 1986-February 11, 1993 July 17, 1986-February 15, 1991 July 18, 1986-February 15, 1993 December 16, 1987-November 3, 1994 February 15, 1988-February 15, 1995
1989	Haydee Yorac, Acting Chairman Leopoldo L. Africa Andres R. Flores Dario C. Rama Alfredo E. Abueg, Jr. Magdara B. Dimaampao	December 7, 1989-June 5, 1991 July 14, 1986-February 15, 1991 July 17, 1986-February 15, 1991 July 18, 1986-February 15, 1993 December 16, 1987-November 3, 1994 February 15, 1988-February 15, 1995
1991	Christian Monsod, Chairman Haydee B. Yorac Andres R. Flores Dario C. Rama Alfredo E. Abueg, Jr. Magdara B. Dimaampao Regalado E. Maambong	June 6, 1991-February 15, 1995 July 15, 1986-February 11, 1993 July 17, 1986-February 15, 1991 July 18, 1986-February 15, 1993 December 16, 1987-November 3, 1994 February 15, 1988-February 15, 1995 June 6, 1991-February 15, 1998
1991	Christian Monsod, Chairman Haydee B. Yorac Andres R. Flores Dario C. Rama Alfredo E. Abueg, Jr. Magdara B. Dimaampao Regalado E. Maambong	June 6, 1991-February 15, 1995 July 15, 1986-February 11, 1993 July 17, 1986-February 15, 1991 July 18, 1986-February 15, 1993 December 16, 1987-November 3, 1994 February 15, 1988-February 15, 1995 June 6, 1991-February 15, 1998
1992	Christian Monsod, Chairman Haydee B. Yorac Dario C. Rama Magdara B. Dimaampao Regalado E. Maambong Vicente B. de Lima Remedios Salazar- Fernando	June 6, 1991-February 15, 1995 July 15, 1986-February 11, 1993 July 18, 1986-February 15, 1993 February 15, 1988-February 15, 1995 June 6, 1991-February 15, 1998 February 7, 1992-November 4, 1994 February 14, 1992-February 15, 1998
1993	Christian Monsod, Chairman Magdara B. Dimaampao Regalado E. Maambong Vicente B. de Lima Remedios Salazar-Fernando Manolo B. Gorospe Graduacion R. Claravall	June 6, 1991-February 15, 1995 February 15, 1988-February 15, 1995 June 6, 1991-February 15, 1998 February 7, 1992-November 4, 1994 February 14, 1992-February 15, 1998 April 14, 1993-February 14, 2000 April 12, 1993-January 14, 1996
1995	Bernardo P. Pardo, Chairman Regalado E. Maambong Remedios Salazar- Fernando Manolo B. Gorospe Graduacion R. Claravall Julio F. Desamito Teresita Dy-Liacco Flores	February 17, 1995-October 8, 1998 June 6, 1991-February 15, 1998 February 14, 1992-February 15, 1998 April 14, 1993-February 14, 2000 April 12, 1993-January 14, 1996 January 3, 1995-February 15, 2001 February 17, 1995-February 15, 2002
1996	Bernardo P. Pardo, Chairman Regalado E. Maambong Remedios Salazar- Fernando Manolo B. Gorospe Julio F. Desamito Teresita Dy-Liacco Flores Japal M. Guiani	February 17, 1995-October 8, 1998 June 6, 1991-February 15, 1998 February 14, 1992-February 15, 1998 April 14, 1993-February 14, 2000 January 3, 1995-February 15, 2001 February 17, 1995-February 15, 2002 March 29, 1996-February 15, 2000
1998	Bernardo P. Pardo, Chairman Manolo B. Gorospe Julio F. Desamito Teresita Dy-Liacco Flores Japal M. Guiani Amado Calderon Evalyn I. Fetalino Luzviminda G. Tancangco Abdul Gani Marohombsar	February 17, 1995-October 8, 1998 April 14, 1993-February 14, 2000 January 3, 1995-February 15, 2001 February 17, 1995-February 15, 2002 March 29, 1996-February 15, 2000 February 16, 1998-June 30, 1998 February 16, 1998-June 30, 1998 August 5, 1998- February 15, 2004 September 7, 1998-June 3, 1999
1998-1999	Luzviminda Tancangco, Acting Chairman Manolo B. Gorospe Julio F. Desamito Teresita Dy-Liacco Flores Japal M. Guiani Abdul Gani Marohombsar	October 8, 1998-January 10, 1999 April 14, 1993-February 14, 2000 January 3, 1995-February 15, 2001 February 17, 1995-February 15, 2001 March 29, 1996-February 15, 2000 September 7, 1998-June 3, 1999
1999	Harriet Demetriou, Chairman Manolo B. Gorospe Julio F. Desamito Teresita Dy-Liacco Flores Japal M. Guiani Luzviminda G. Tancangco Abdul Gani Marohombsar	January 11, 1999-February 15, 2001 April 14, 1993-February 14, 2000 January 3, 1995-February 15, 2001 February 17, 1995-February 15, 2001 March 29, 1996-February 15, 2000 August 5, 1998- February 15, 2004 September 7, 1998-June 3, 1999
2000	Harriet Demetriou, Chairman Manolo B. Gorospe Julio F. Desamito Teresita Dy-Liacco Flores Japal M. Guiani Luzviminda G. Tancangco Ralph C. Lantion Rufino S.B. Javier Mehol K. Sadain	January 11, 1999-February 15, 2001 April 14, 1993-February 14, 2000 January 3, 1995-February 15, 2001 February 17, 1995-February 15, 2001 March 29, 1996-February 15, 2000 August 5, 1998- February 15, 2004 January 6, 2000-February 15, 2004 March 3, 2000-February 15, 2007 July 17, 2000-February 15, 2006
2001	Alfredo Benipayo, Chairman Luzviminda G. Tancangco Ralph C. Lantion Rufino S.B. Javier Mehol K. Sadain Resurreccion Z. Borra Florentino A. Tuason, Jr.	February 19, 2001-June 4, 2002 August 5, 1998- February 15, 2004 January 6, 2000-February 15, 2004 March 3, 2000-February 15, 2007 July 17, 2000-February 15, 2006 February 16, 2001-February 15, 2008 February 21, 2001-February 15, 2008
2002	Benjamin Abalos Chairman Luzviminda G. Tancangco Ralph C. Lantion Rufino S.B. Javier Mehol K. Sadain Resurreccion Z. Borra Florentino A. Tuason, Jr.	June 5, 2002-February 15, 2008 August 5, 1998- February 15, 2004 January 6, 2000-February 15, 2004 March 3, 2000-February 15, 2007 July 17, 2000-February 15, 2006 February 16, 2001-February 15, 2008 February 21, 2001-February 15, 2008
2004	Benjamin Abalos Chairman Rufino S.B. Javier Mehol K. Sadain Resurreccion Z. Borra Florentino A. Tuason, Jr. Virgilio O. Garcillano Manuel A. Barcelona, Jr.	June 5, 2002-February 15, 2008 March 3, 2000-February 15, 2007 July 17, 2000-February 15, 2006 February 16, 2001-February 15, 2008 February 21, 2001-February 15, 2008 February 10, 2004-June 11, 2005 February 10, 2004-June 11, 2005
October–November 2007	Benjamin Abalos Chairman Resurreccion Z. Borra Florentino A. Tuason, Jr. Romeo A. Brawner Rene V. Sarmiento Nicodemo T. Ferrer	June 5, 2002-October 1, 2007 February 16, 2001-February 15, 2008 February 21, 2001-February 15, 2008 September 18, 2005-February 2, 2011 April 7, 2006–Present June 9, 2006–Present
November 2007	Resurreccion Borra Acting Chairman Florentino A. Tuason, Jr. Romeo A. Brawner Rene V. Sarmiento Nicodemo T. Ferrer Moslemen T. Macarambon, Sr.	October 1, 2007-February 2, 2008 February 16, 2001-February 2, 2008 September 18, 2005-February 2, 2011 April 7, 2006–Present June 9, 2006–Present November 5, 2007–Present
February 2008	Romeo A. Brawner Acting Chairman Rene V. Sarmiento Nicodemo T. Ferrer Moslemen T. Macarambon, Sr.	September 18, 2005-February 2, 2011 April 7, 2006–Present June 9, 2006–Present November 5, 2007–Present
March–May 2008	Jose A.R. Melo Chairman Romeo A. Brawner Rene V. Sarmiento Nicodemo T. Ferrer Moslemen T. Macarambon, Sr.	March 25, 2008–Present September 18, 2005-May 25, 2008 April 7, 2006–Present June 9, 2006–Present November 5, 2007–Present
Present	Atty. Sixto S. Brillantes, Jr. Chairman Rene V. Sarmiento Nicodemo T. Ferrer (Retired February 2, 2011) Lucenito N. Tagle Gregorio Y. Larrazabal (Retired February 2, 2011) Armando C. Velasco Elias R. Yusoph Christian Robert S. Lim Augusto C. Lagman

External links

• Official Website of the Philippines Commission on Elections
• Official Website of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)
• mb.com.ph, Retiring Borra, Tuason bid farewell to Comelec - 02/1/2008

References

1. ^ abs-cbnnews.com, Melo named new COMELEC chairman
2. ^ Opposition questions Melo's appointment as poll chief - 01/26/2008
3. ^ Inquirer.net, Melo sworn in as Comelec chairman
4. ^ Brawner's death leaves 3 vacancies in Comelec-spokesman - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
5. ^ Inquirer.net, 2 Comelec commissioners named
6. ^ gmanews.tv/story, Arroyo names 2 new Comelec commissioners - report
7. ^ inquirer.net, New election commissioner named
8. ^ beta.philstar.com, New Comelec commissioner named; Macarambon out?
9. ^ newsinfo.inquirer.net, New poll commissioner vows changes
10. ^ Inquirer.net, Impeachment raps filed vs Abalos at House by Iloilo vice gov
11. ^ GMA NEWS.TV, Impeachment raps filed vs Abalos over ZTE controversy
12. ^ WSJ, Philippine Voting Chief Quits Amid Bribe Queries