Borra is Comelec OIC; Abalos resignation surprised poll execs

Elections Commissioner Resurreccion Borra takes over as officer-in-charge of the poll body Monday morning, as the most senior of five remaining commissioners. Borra's assumption as Comelec chairman followed the sudden resignation of Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos, amid accusations that Abalos had brokered the controversial $329-million national broadband network project that was awarded to China's ZTE Corporation. Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento told GMANews.TV that Abalos's resignation caught him and his fellow commissioners by surprise. "I didn't know about it, until the press asked about his press conference," Sarmiento said. Abalos is due to retire on February 2, 2008, and Borra, also next year. Abalos apparently failed to give his fellow commissioners courtesy notice about his decision to resign. "Commissionner Borra is the acting chairman, pending the appointment of a regular chairman," Sarmiento said. Abalos's resignation means that he is out of the Comelec as both chairman and commissioner, Sarmiento said. "My understanding is he has resigned as chairman, and therefore he has resigned as commissioner. The positions are one and the same," Sarmiento explained. Abalos said he wants to attend the Comelec en banc meeing on Tuesday, "but maybe just for turnover, but because he has resigned, he can no longer participate in the meetings," Sarmiento said. Asked if the new chairman would serve only the unexpired four-month term of Abalos, Samiento replied: "Yes, that is a legal question that must be settled." The Comelec is scheduled to preside over the elections for barangangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials on October 29, with just five of seven remaining commissioners. "Five more remain, we will just have to try our best," Sarmiento said. - GMANews.TV