Comelec to reshuffle local poll officials

MANILA, Philippines - Wary of familiarity between its officers and candidates, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is shaking up officials in its local offices in time for the 2010 elections. Comelec chairman Jose Melo had said they have started reshuffling some people local posts, but did not name names. "Ayaw namin ng too much familiarity between Comelec officials at ang kandidato. Meron na tayo, nag-umpisa na sa ibang areas nagbabalasa na nang kaunti [We do not want too much familiarity between Comelec officials and candidates. So we have started shakeups in some areas]," he said in a recent interview on dzXL radio. The Comelec is gearing up for the first automated elections in the country in May 2010. It has already given to Smartmatic a P11.3-billion contract to implement the automated counting of votes for next year's polls. - GMANews.TV