Newly appointed Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Andres Bautista (left) and commissioner Rowena Guanzon face the media at the COMELEC office in Intramuros, Manila on Monday. Bautista was the chairman of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) prior to his new assignment. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Commission on Elections is planning to revamp the assignments of its field officials before the year-end as part of its preparations for the May 2016 national elections.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the possible reshuffle of personnel will involve Regional Election Directors (REDs), Provincial Election Supervisors (PES), and city/municipal Election Officers (EOs).
“Part yan ng ating standard na preparation. Nagkakaroon tayo ng evaluation kung kailangan ng reshuffle,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez said the reassignments are being planned to avoid any unwanted association between Comelec officials and employees and candidates in the next year’s elections.
According to the Comelec Employees Union, are an estimated 16 REDs, 80 PES, and over 1,500 EOs nationwide.
“We usually do that to avoid situations kung saan local Comelec officials are already very cozy with local personalities,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez said the extent of the revamp would depend on the assessment of the Comelec en banc.
“Depende sa need. There were times na hanggang REDs pa e. Definitely, ito ay hanggang level ng EOs,” Jimenez said. (MNS)