Alumna Appointed Comelec Commissioner

Sillimanian litigation lawyer Maria Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon is one of the new Commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), following her appointment on April 28.

Atty. Guanzon graduated from Silliman University High School in 1974. Her parents, Judge Sixto Guanzon and Negros Occidental Board Member Mrs. Elvira Guanzon, were also Sillimanians. Both were among the first to receive from Silliman the highest Latin honors of summa cum laude.

Serving the post until February 2, 2022, Atty. Guanzon is the lone female Commissioner in the seven-member Comelec. She took the oath of office on May 4 with fellow new Commissioners: Atty. Andres Bautista, who was appointed Chairman, and Atty. Sheriff M. Abas.

Not new in the field of public service, Atty. Guanzon served as Mayor of Cadiz City in Negros Occidental where she was born and raised. She was Officer-in-Charge of the Institute for the Administration of Justice at the University of the Philippines (UP) Law Center and professor of law in the same university, prior to her appointment.

Atty. Guanzon holds degrees in Economics and Law from UP, and a master’s in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

(Preview image courtesy of ANC.)