Sunday, August 19, 2007 Poll chief takes charge anew of autonomous region
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has reassigned Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. as commissioner-in-charge (CIC) of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in time for the barangay and Sangguinang Kabataan (SK) elections in October.
In an en banc meeting, the six-member commission passed a resolution on the designation again of Abalos as Armm CIC. The resolution did not say why Abalos was reassigned as Armm CIC.
“This pertains to the new regional assignments of the members of the Commission En Banc for a more effective and efficient administration of their respective areas of jurisdiction in connection with the Oct. 29, 2007 synchronized barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections,” said the resolution.
Aside from the Armm, Abalos will also supervise the conduct of elections in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Region 9 in the elections in October.
Commissioners Resurreccion Borra was named CIC of Regions 6 and 7; Florentino Tuason Jr. - Regions 4 and 5; Romeo Brawner - Regions 11, 12, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR); Rene Sarmiento - Regions 1, 2, and 3; and Nicodemo Ferrer - Regions 8, 10, and Caraga.
A few months before the elections last May 14, Abalos designated Sarmiento as Armm CIC to do away with speculations that he will manipulate the results of the elections there.
Meanwhile, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the Armm and NCR assignments are “traditionally” given to the chairman. (MSN/Sunnex)
