The reason for the unexpected retirement of Commission on Elections (Comelec) director James Jimenez’s is “deeply personal,” Comelec chair George Garcia said on Monday.
The poll body has reportedly accepted Jimenez’s request for optional retirement, effective on September 16.
Garcia said the Comelec en banc tackled Jimenez’s request for two weeks before deciding to accept it.
“Director Jimenez’s reasons for retiring are too personal, but that includes concerns about his health. Actually he told us of his intention to retire two weeks ago. The en banc mulled its acceptance for two weeks; we didn’t want to accept it until we spoke with him,” Garcia said in a television interview.
Garcia also said the retirement of Jimenez would not affect their fact-finding investigation on the former Comelec spokesman’s role in the controversial deal with Halalan 2022 debate organizer Impact Hub Manila.
The last leg of the presidential and vice presidential town-hall debates—supposed to take place April 23 and 24—was canceled after the management of venue Sofitel Philippine Plaza said Impact Hub failed to fulfill its payment obligations, amounting to P14 million.
Sofitel said Impact Hub repeatedly issued them bouncing checks.
Garcia noted that the Comelec’s investigation was not focused on Jimenez.
“The probe is centered on different individuals and the Comelec’s processes. Was the problem created on purpose? What was the problem, where did it come from? Was there a mistake in the process that the Comelec can change? Must someone be held responsible, or is it the fault of more than one person?” Garcia said.
He said the results of the inquiry may be tackled by the Commission en banc in its meeting this week.
“We may tackle the results of the investigation in our Wednesday en banc meeting. Hopefully, we’ll have an initial report about it soon,” Garcia said.