MANILA, Philippines – On February 10, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Noli Rafol Pipo as one of his latest picks for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) under his administration.
Pipo was one of two commissioners appointed that day, alongside Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal, both seasoned leaders of the poll body. While Casingal comes in with her expertise in election law, Pipo brings with him decades of experience in the local implementation of elections, and a personal eyewitness account of how the Philippine elections turned modern.
With Casingal and Pipo, the current Comelec is now dominated by Marcos appointees, with five of seven being chosen under his administration.
Here are some things to know about Pipo.
Career official
Born and raised in Ilocos Sur, Pipo moved to Manila to continue his higher studies. After finishing law at San Sebastian College in 1988, he passed the Bar in 1990.
Pipo did private practice for around three years, and then applied to be an election officer for the Comelec. In 1993, he began his career in government, and never looked back.
After two and a half years, Pipo was promoted to be provincial election supervisor of Ilocos Norte at 32 years old.
His seniors then, the regional directors, told him and his fellow leaders, “stay put in the Comelec.” They were soon retiring, and believed that he could take their place.
Eventually, he rose up the ranks: assistant regional election director for two years, until he became regional election director, a rank he stayed for 19 years until he was appointed commissioner.
Pipo was assigned in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Northern Mindanao, Bicol, and Eastern Visayas from the 2007 to 2022 elections.
“I’m thankful to the Lord, ‘yung career ko, na-enjoy ko naman sa Comelec (I’ve enjoyed my career in the Comelec),” he said in an exclusive interview with Rappler on Wednesday, February 26.
Serving the voters
Asked about the advocacies he developed through his decades with the poll body, Pipo was quick to name a handful, from the way commission workers should conduct themselves, to how to properly serve Filipino voters.
In the 1990s, he recalls encountering government workers in offices who were “not friendly.” Armed with 29 years of leadership roles, Pipo believes in prioritizing personality development and skills upgrading for government workers.
And since the Comelec is in charge of ensuring a clean election, honesty and integrity should be found among all its workers, Pipo believes, as well as a drive to reach out to Filipinos to enable them to vote.
“As much as possible, we have to reach out to the voters, to the applicants, to the people. We don’t have to wait for them. The first way to do this is by ensuring registration of voters. That’s why we are advocating to go into barangays, and reach out to people, in order for them to be able to register,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Pipo also envisions an electoral process that is accessible and inclusive.
In Ilocos Region, he made it a point to direct the local Comelec offices to ensure that voting areas were on the first floor, so persons with disabilities can easily access them.
“Kung mayroong magparehistro na applicant o client of the Comelec who is suffering an impediment, kayo na mag-adjust, bababa po kayo,” he recalls directing his staff where the Comelec offices are on the second floor of government buildings.
(If there is a Comelec client who wants to register and is suffering an impediment, you should adjust. You should go down to meet them.)
Trusting current leadership
Pipo is commissioner-in-charge of the Comelec’s committees against illegal campaign materials and internal security.
However, as of now, Pipo is confident with the staff who were already running the operations before he entered the picture.
“Kayang kaya naman nila ‘yung trabaho (They are fully capable of doing the job),” he said.
The Comelec also signed a minute resolution allowing new forms of campaign materials that voters can use, such as fans and mugs, as opposed to posters and streamers, which exist for the sole purpose of display.
“It is more environmentally friendly in a sense that they’re not going to dispose of it. The voters will continually use it… [Candidates just] have to declare it in the statement of contributions and expenditures,” said Pipo.
When Pipo took his oath of office on February 12, he was still grasping to understand how the landed the position.
“I cannot understand why the best and the brightest in the commission encouraged me to apply for commissioner,” he said.
“Perhaps my only strength is my willingness to listen,” he added. “I will do more if I listen rather than when I talk.” – Rappler.com