Commissioner Lim to focus on Electoral Reforms & Training of Election Officers

COMELEC Commissioner Christian Robert Lim

Newly appointed Commission on Elections (COMELEC) commissioner Christian Robert Lim said he felt "overwhelmed" after his first en banc session but is challenged to do reforms in the electoral system.

In an interview on GMA Network's Unang Balita on Wednesday, Lim said his experience in the last elections showed him the kinds of reforms that he wants to implement in the Comelec, especially in the precinct level.

Aside from crafting resolutions, he said he wants to focus more on implementing what's already there, especially training election personnel and teachers to get them ready for the next automation elections.

He said the teachers and other election officers were not properly trained to handle the last automated elections, which made them panic when something went wrong.

"Mas importante 'yung training (for teachers and board of election inspectors) para wala nang duda kung may nangyayari sa eleksyon (Training teachers and board of election inspectors is more important so there's no more doubt when something happens in the next elections)," he said.

Lim was part of the legal and anti-fraud group of President Benigno Aquino III's Bantay Balota in the May 2010 elections.

But he quickly dismissed speculations that his appointment is a payback for helping out Aquino in the presidential campaign, stressing his new job is actually a "sacrifice."

In the same television interview, Lim admitted he was surprised when he found out he was appointed, jokingly adding that he thought it was an April Fools joke.

On Monday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced that Lim will take the post vacated by Gregorio Larrazabal, who retired in February. 

Lim said he submitted a résumé because he wanted to work for government, but he did not have any position in mind. Lim also said he did not know who was behind his endorsement. 

He added that he felt sad about having to leave his private law office so soon.

Lim will serve in the poll body until February 2018 if his nomination will be approved by the bicameral Commission on Appointments. — Candice Montenegro/RSJ, GMA News

New poll commissioner denies plot

Commissioner Christian Robert Lim

MANILA, Philippines - The newest commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) denied Tuesday his appointment has anything to do with preparations by former Senator Mar Roxas for an election bid in 2016.

Lawyer Christian Robert Lim was asked this question in his 1st press briefing before the Comelec media on Tuesday.

Lim said he only talked to Roxas once, and that was when the former lawmaker called to congratulate him for his appointment.”But besides that he wasn't able to talk to me in terms of plans for 2016. It's all speculative.”

Lim was a lawyer for Roxas and President Aquino, as well as the Villaraza, Cruz, Marcelo and Angangco law firm, which has known close ties to Roxas.

“I used to be an associate employee.  I don’t know who pushed my papers if that helped. I'm grateful to those who helped me.”

Lim will serve till February 2, 2018, 2 years after the 2016 presidential elections.

The new commissioner is still surprised at his appointment, saying he feels overwhelmed now that Comelec Chairman Sixto Brilliants has started to give him an orientation on his new job.

“Till now medyo na-overwhelm pa ako to think si chairman brought me up, made me sit in en banc to know dynamics of commission. It's still a learning process.”

Lim said he only submitted a resume, and that he was informed he was being considered. However he didn’t see his name in any shortlist reported by media.

He said he feels now is the time to serve government after turning down previous offers to join government.

Lim is aware of the comparisons between him and his predecessor, lawyer Gregorio Larrazabal. “Mas gwapo siya," he said.

Like his predecessor, Lim said he is also fond of electronics.

Lim is now focusing his energies towards preparing for the regional elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. “Mukhang tutuloy  yung ARMM elections. We hope we can refine the automation process (and) use it to further showcase automation," he said.

Lim will serve with the 1st division, led by Commissioner Rene Sarmiento.

SOURCE:  www.abs-cbnnews.com

Voter Registration and Validation to Start on May 3, 2011 instead of April 1

RESOLUTION NO. 9168

 IN THE MATTER OF THE RESETTING OF THE RESUMPTION OF THE SYSTEM OF CONTINUING REGISTRATION OF VOTERS IN THE NON-ARMM AREAS, FROM APRIL 1, 2011 TO MAY 3, 2011.

Promulgation: 22 March 2011

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WHEREAS, Resolution No. 9149, promulgated on February 22, 2011 entitled “Rules and Regulations For the Resumption of the System of Continuing Registration and Validation of Registration Records in the Non-ARMM Areas”, provides that the system of continuing of registration of voters for non-ARMM areas shall resume on April 1, 2011 and end on October 31, 2012;

WHEREAS, in order to expedite the distribution to the field offices of application forms to be used in connection with the resumption of the system of continuing registration of voters, the Commission promulgated on March 02, 2011, Minute Resolution No. 11-0268, delegating to the Regional Election Directors of the non-ARMM areas the authority to procure said application forms for use in their respective area of jurisdiction;

WHEREAS, to afford the Regional Election Directors with sufficient time to procure the application forms, and deliver the same to the offices of their respective Provincial Election Supervisors, there is a need to reset the commencement of the system of continuing the registration of voters in the non-ARMM areas;

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 8189 and other election laws, the Commission RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to reset the resumption of the system of continuing registration of voters in the non-ARMM areas from April 1, 2011 to May 3, 2011.

Let the Education and Information Department cause the widest dissemination of this Resolution, and its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation of the Philippines.

SO ORDERED.

(Sgd.) SIXTO S. BRILLANTES, JR. Chairman
(Sgd.) RENE V. SARMIENTO Commissioner	(Sgd.) LUCENITO N. TAGLE Commissioner
(Sgd.) ARMANDO C. VELASCO Commissioner	(Sgd.) ELIAS R. YUSOPH  Commissioner

COMELEC and watchdog gear up voter information in Muslim communities outside ARMM

QUEZON CITY, Philippines - The Commission on Elections and a citizen watchdog that is operating in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have started a voters’ education partnership program intended for Muslim voters who came from the ARMM, but are residing in Metro Manila and other areas outside of the region.

Amid calls to move the constitutionally-set voting in ARMM in August, the Education and Information Department of the Comelec and Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reform jointly conducted voters’ education on the continuing registration for the electorates coming from the autonomous region but are residing in Muslim communities in Culiat and Tandang Sora areas in Quezon City.

Director James Jimenez, of the Comelec’s EID and Jumda Sabaani, chairperson of C-CARE, who were among the speakers in a forum Sunday attended by some 200 electorates, mostly Maguindanaon, Tausog and Maranao, took turns in stressing that “every citizen of the country can only register once.” 

The emphasis was premised on a finding that many electorates registered in ARMM were also registered in the barangays where they have established residence in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.  The Maguindanaons, Tausogs and Maranaos are natives of Maguindanao, Sulu and Lanao del Sur, which are all part of the five-province Muslim autonomous region.

In a phone interview, Sabaani relayed that her group and the Comelec explained to the electorates the election law that prohibits multiple registration. “If you are already registered in Metro Manila, you can no longer register in ARMM,” she said while explaining that the electoral office is continuously accepting registrants.

Sabaani said that with the assistance of Jimenez and Leo Lim, an information officer of the Comelec’s EID department, they explained the details of the continuing registration process by walking the electorates through the filling up of registration forms.

Culiat village chieftain Jaime Garcia, who welcomed the consultation participants, called upon the Muslim electorates in his village to “be responsible in exercising your right to suffrage,” emphasizing further “that your participation in a democratic exercise, such as election, is a manifestation of you freedom.”

Sabaani, a Tausog native, stressed to her fellow Islam believers “the need for us to register as a requisite for us to be able to exercise our right to suffrage.”

“It doesn’t really matter, as far as registration of voters is concern, whether elections in ARMM will push thru as scheduled in August or not,” the C-Care chair said even as she warned the public against dual or multiple registration.

“If you are registered in Culiat, you should no longer file a registration in ARMM, or, if you are already registered in ARMM, you should not register again in Culiat to prevent double registration, since this is against the law,” Sabaani said. 

Jimenez said that the voters’ registration in ARMM will be held this coming March 21 to 31, while in all other areas nationwide will be on April 1 to October 31.

“The Comelec will begin its nationwide drive to inform the public on the upcoming voters’ registration. We urge them to be on the lookout for voter education activities that will be conducted in their areas,” he said.

Jimenez also urged the public to visit the Comelec’s website www.comelec.gov.ph and its Education and Information Department’s blog at www.comelec.wordpress.com for updates and related information.

He reported that the poll body has already activated the "COMELEC TV Channel YouTube" and can be accessed on this URL: http://www.youtube.com/user/comelectv), which features voter's education and information videos.

“It will also feature a web news program that will deliver a round-up of the most recent Comelec-related news as well as video-clips of Comelec field officials at work,” he said.

Jimenez said that the public forum for Muslim voters at the Salam Mosque Compound in Culiat, was in preparation for the 10-day voters registration.

Another forum will be conducted Monday at the Legislative Wing of the Quezon City Hall.

The postponement of ARMM polls is being pushed to give way to a synchronized election in 2013.  It will also give the President a chance to appoint caretakers in those provinces.  (Romy Elusfa)