Comelec orders immediate relief of poll execs running in 2010

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) ordered on Friday the immediate removal from office of all poll officers who are running for elective offices in 2010. Through Resolution 8709, the poll body has directed all regional election directors to immediately remove from office all Comelec personnel who have filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for the 2010 polls. The move was prompted by reports that for the first time in Philippine history, at least five Comelec officials are running for elective posts in the coming polls. The commission has also ordered all of its regional directors to submit the names of all Comelec officials and employees who have filed their COCs. Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said relieved poll officials are required to report to the Comelec main office in Manila, and have the option to resign or be reassigned to Manila. "Normally the procedure before is, Comelec officials wait for their retirement and then file or they would resign and file. Now they filed without resigning. So when they will be reassigned to Manila to the main office it’s still the prerogative of the Comelec to assign them or designate them to perform other duties as we deem appropriate," he explained. Larrazabal earlier named two election officers, lawyer Raymond Gunda from Samar and Mac Laylay of Apayao, seeking elective posts in May 2010. [See: First time in RP elections: 2 poll execs running in 2010] The poll commissioner said reports have reached the Comelec that three more election officers have filed their COCs the past few days. Larrazabal said they are in the process of verifying the report, and expects the regional directors in the areas where these poll executives serve to immediately act on the matter to prevent conflict-of-interest situations come election period. - Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV