President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Court of Appeals (CA) Associate Justice Socorro Balinghasay-Inting as Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner on Tuesday, April 17.
Inting will serve as COMELEC commissioner until February 2, 2025, replacing retired elections officer Arthur Lim.
In the appointment letter sent to the media on Thursday, April 19, Inting’s appointment is ad interim, meaning the lady justice can immediately assume the post, subject to the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments.
Meanwhile, Comelec welcomed the appointment of Inting as commissioner of the polling body.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said Justice Inting’s “long experience in the judiciary will be an invaluable asset to the Commission.”
One of the first responsibilities of Inting as elections commissioner would be ensuring the success of the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections and preparing for the 2019 national and local elections.
Before serving the CA in 2009 under the Macapagal-Arroyo administration, Inting served as Presiding Judge of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 4 for more than nine years and Presiding Judge of the Makati Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 63 for almost three years.
Similar to Duterte, Inting is also from Davao City.
