Ex-SGV chair is new Namfrel chairman

MANILA, Philippines – The national council of election watchdog National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has elected David Balangue as its new chairman.

He is replacing Corazon de la Paz Bernardo, who will remain with Namfrel as a member of its national council.

Balangue was the chairman of local auditing firm Sycip Gorres Velayo & Company (SGV) from 2004 to 2010.

He is currently chairman of the Coalition Against Corruption, a member of the board of trustees of Habitat for Humanity Foundation-Philippines, an independent member of the board of various corporations, and a columnist at the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

In a press release on Friday, July 31, Namfrel said that Balangue “brings to the position long and vast experiences in management, finance, governance, and corporate social responsibility.” He was Namfrel’s vice chairman from 2010 until his election as chairman.

He is “expected to steer Namfrel’s engagement in the 2016 national and local elections,” added Namfrel.

Also elected to key positions in the Namfrel executive committee were Evelyn Singson as vice chairperson-treasurer and Edward Go as head of the finance committee. – Michael Bueza/Rappler.com

Editor’s note: It was earlier reported that Balangue was a former commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In a letter to Rappler, the SEC said that he was “never a commissioner of SEC.” We have made the correction.