Comelec personnel reshuffled nationwide

Poll chief: New assignments take effect from Jan. 9 to June 8, 2016

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has implemented a movement of its field personnel in connection with the coming national elections.

Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista ordered in a memorandum the reshuffling of other key officials, including regional election directors (REDs).

“For the coming May 9 elections, a temporary reshuffle of the assignments of all Comelec field officials will be implemented,” he said in an order dated Jan. 8.

Key poll officials

Among those that have been transferred is National Capital Region (NCR) Director Jubil Surmieda who will be assigned to the Bicol Region to replace Romeo Fortes, while he shall be succeeded by Central Luzon Director Temie Lambino.

Fortes shall then be sent to the Calabarzon to replace Juanito Icaro, who shall be replacing Lambino.

Other new assignments are REDs Julius Torres (from Cordillera Administrative Region to Ilocos Region), Noli Pipo (Ilocos Region to Cagayan Valley), Ederlino Tablas (Cagayan Valley to CAR), Dennis Ausan (Western Visayas to Eastern Visayas), Rafael Olano (Central Visayas

Feb. 9 is also the start of the campaign period for national candidates, such as president, vice-president, senator, and party-list groups New REDs will be the ones to recommend the temporary assignments of the provincial election supervisors (PES) and election officers (EOs) within their respective regions

to Western Visayas), Jose Nick Mendros (Eastern Visayas to Central Visayas), Wilfred Jay Balisado (Zamboanga Peninsula to Northern Mindanao), Renato Magbutay (Northern Mindanao to Caraga), Remlane Tambuang (Davao Region to Zamboanga Peninsula), Michael Abas (Socsksargen to Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), Francsico Pobe (Caraga to Socsksargen), and Ray Sumalipao (ARMM to Davao Region).

Director Jerbee Anthony Cortez will be the new RED of Mimaropa.

“This reshuffle is being undertaken to forestall any accusations of partiality or bias on the part of any Comelec official and in line with our primary ob- jective of achieving credible elections,” Bautista said.

The poll body chief said the new assignments shall be effective from Jan. 9 to June 8, 2016 unless revoked by the commission.

“To enable the REDs to formally turnover all regional concerns, the assumption to their new assignments shall be completed not later than Feb. 9,” he added.

Reassignments

But with or without assuming already their new posts, the poll chief said the new REDs must already recommend the temporary assignments of the provincial election supervisors (PES) and election officers (EOs) within their respective regions.

“All Comelec field officials are required to assume their new assignments not later than Feb. 9 and will need to submit to the Personnel Department a Certification of Assumption of Duty to their temporary assignments not later than five days from assumption,” he said.

Feb. 9 is also the start of the campaign period for national candidates, such as president, vice-president, senator, and party-list groups. (FP/Sunnex)