Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez, is set to retire on September 16.
Jimenez served as the poll body’s mouth piece for 15 years.
Comelec chair George Garcia in a statement on Saturday confirmed the retirement of Jimenez, who remained the head of the Education and Information Department (EID).
Garcia thanked Jimenez’s for his services, including as EID head, since 2004.
The poll body will soon start the vetting process for Jimenez’s replacement, even in an acting capacity.
Director John Rex Laudiangco of the Law Department has replaced Jimenez as spokesperson in an acting capacity on May 6.
Garcia has also said they were saddened by Jimenez’s retirement, but respects his decision and wishes him well.
“This is very personal to him and we understand the personal reasons of Director James Jimenez. And hopefully, we are begging the public, let us also understand whatever the reason for our Director James Jimenez’s early retirement,” he said.
“But of course, that is a welcome development for him because you know, every stage in our life is always another chance, another opportunity, another opportunity in our life to improve ourselves. So we can only say good luck to Director James Jimenez,” Garcia added.
Garcia said the probe would continue on the cancellation of the last episodes of the presidential and vice presidential debates before the May 2022 national and local elections, which led to Jimenez being replaced as spokesperson.
“That’s something we didn’t consider when we accepted his retirement because you know the important thing is to process his documents. The investigation or what is called fact-finding, there is no stopping it, but it cannot stop a person’s intention to retire,” he said.