Long-time Comelec spox James Jimenez retires from poll body

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Education and Information Department Director James Jimenez is retiring from the poll body, after serving the institution for almost two decades.

In a statement on Saturday, Comelec Chairman George Garcia announced that the Commission En Banc approved Jimenez’s request for retirements during its Regular Meeting of August 31, 2022, “which he applied for with the Comelec Personnel Department on August 2, 2022.”

“This effectively grants Dir. Jimenez’ intent to avail of the optional retirement as Director IV of the Education and Information Department effective September 15, 2022, as allowed under Civil Service Rules,” Garcia said.

Jimenez has been the director of the Comelec’s Education and Information Department since 2004 and the poll body spokesperson since 2007 until early May this year.

Jimenez was relieved from his duties as spokesman in connection with the controversy that led to the cancelation of the final presidential and vice presidential debates. 

He was replaced by law department director Rex Laudiangco as the poll body's acting spokesperson, but remained as Comelec director of the Education and Information Department.

“The whole Comelec family expresses its gratitude and appreciation to Dir. Jimenez for his long exemplary service to the Nation through the Commission. We wish him all the best as he embarks on this new chapter in his life,” Garcia said.

“We shall now start the vetting process even in an acting capacity,” he said. —LBG, GMA News