Namfrel Elects New Head

MANILA, Oct. 7, 2009-The National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) has formally appointed its new head.

Jose Cuisia, Jr., a prominent businessman and a member of the Opus Dei, was recently appointed as Chairman of the independent poll watchdog.

Mr. Cuisia succeeds Henrietta de Villa who resigned last month to devote more time to her work as head of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), which focuses on voter's education.

Namfrel is a poll watchdog accredited by the Commission on Elections to conduct quick count of votes.

Mr. Cuisia is currently the vice chairman of the Philippine American Life and General Insurance Company.

From 1986 to 1990, he served as Governor of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and from 1990 to 1993 as Administrator of the Social Security System.

The Namfrel chairman-elect also served as a Director of San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Airlines and Philippine National Bank.

The organization has also elected, during their recent meeting, former Senator Vicente Peterno as its national vice chairperson.

Other members elected for the Namfrel's National Council were Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo, Christian Monsod, Protestant Bishop Efraim Tendero, Fr. Eliseo Mercado, OMI, David Balangue, Joey Bermudez and Telibert Laoc. (Roy Lagarde)