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Former Comission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Spokesperson James Jimenez speaks at the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) briefing room at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay, City on May 21, 2019. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<div></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171135215628320190521-comelec-election-canvass-JC-2867.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Former Comission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA — A familiar face was sighted at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Intramuros office during the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/25/comelec-targets-3-million-registered-overseas-filipinos-for-midterm-polls-1341">Memorandum of Agreement signing for overseas voting</a> on Monday: former Comelec spokesperson and head of the education and information department director James Jimenez. Jimenez retired in September 2022 after being embroiled in the Pilipinas Debates fiasco. Sofitel Philippine Plaza, the venue of the debates, said Impact Hub failed to pay P14 million which eventually led to the cancellation of two more rounds of debates.Internal documents showed that Jimenez and Director Frances Arabe were main players in the deal with debate organizer Impact Hub Manila.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/04/22/22/leaked-memo-is-comelec-shouldering-impact-hubs-p14m-debt-to-sofitel">FROM THE ARCHIVES: Is Comelec shouldering Impact Hub&#x27;s P14M debt to Sofitel?</a></div>Asked if he was coming back to Comelec, Jimenez answered in the negative. &quot;I’m fully private,&quot; Jimenez told media at the sidelines of the event. He said he attended only as a former president of a rotary club, and that he simply helped connecting people. He refused to answer where he is currently affiliated with. According to Comelec Chairman George Garcia, Jimenez has no formal or official relationship with them.Garcia said Jimenez went to his office about 2 weeks ago to offer his services. &quot;Siya ay personal na pumunta dito sa Commission, dumalaw siya sa ibang mga opisyal ng Commission at nag-courtesy call din siya sa opisina ng Chairman,&quot; Garcia said. &quot;Ang sabi niya baka naman may available na posisyon at baka puwede mag-apply na uli dito sa Comelec.&quot; (He personally went here to the Commission, he visited other officials of the Commission and gave a courtesy call to the Office of the Chairman. He asked if there is any available position and if he can apply here at the COMELEC.)   &quot;Tayo naman ay open sa lahat ng tao kung sinong gustong maglingkod sa COMELEC. Kaya lang, puno po kasi kami ngayon eh. Sa kasalukuyan ‘yung mga directors namin puno lahat, mga opisina namin puno,&quot; Garcia said. (We are open to all who want to serve the COMELEC. Unfortunately, we are full right now. All our directors are full, our offices are full.)   “Siguro nararamdaman naman ni Director James na maayos ang Commission on Elections sa kasalukuyan at maganda naman ang ating mga ginagawa at adhikain. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ganoong klaseng intensyon,” Garcia added. (Maybe Director James feels like the Commission on Elections is doing well with our advocacies. We thank those with that kind of intention.) He also noted that several other former Comelec employees have expressed their desire to work again for them. &quot;Kapag nag-apply ka dito sa Commission, tatanggapin mo ang lahat ng klase ng application… Kaya lang again paulit ulit kong sasabihin, sobra-sobra po ang mga opisyal na meron kami at walang bakante na mataas na puwesto dito sa atin sa Commission,&quot; Garcia said. (If you apply here at the Commission, we accept all kinds of applications… Although again, I repeatedly say, we have too many officials and there is no vacancy with our top posts.)   As to the resolution on the debate controversy, Garcia said that they have come up with a decision around November or December last year, which has been passed on to the different poll commissioners. &quot;Kung sino man ang may hawak na Commissioner, kukulitin natin para mailabas na. ‘Yan ay isang hanging issue na hindi puwedeng pabayaan,&quot; Garcia said. &quot;I can commit to you na mamadaliin natin pero again final na ang ating desisyon diyan it’s just a matter of releasing the official resolution on the matter.&quot; (We will ask whoever Commissioner is currently holding the decision so that this can already be released. This is one issue that should not be left hanging. I can commit to you that we will fast track this and again our decision is final, it’s just a matter of releasing the official resolution on the matter.”<div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D8NvmD-NBFI?&amp;t=92s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

James Jimenez was spotted at the Commission on Elections Intramuros office during the memorandum of agreement signing for overseas voting on Monday.

James Jimenez was spotted at the Commission on Elections Intramuros office during the memorandum of agreement signing for overseas voting on Monday.

Is James Jimenez back in Comelec?

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Is James Jimenez back in Comelec?

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 25, 2024 03:54 PM PHT

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