ADVERTISEMENT
Comelec spokesman replaced to let him fight disinformation —commissioner thinks
By TED CORDERO,GMA NewsCommission on Elections' former spokesperson James Jimenez has been replaced for him to focus on fighting disinformation in social media, a top poll body official said Saturday.
Director James Jimenez had been Comelec's spokesperson for 15 years, and he is recently replaced, probably, so that he could focus on combating election-related disinformation, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said.
“We cannot speculate on the action of the chairman [Saidamen Pangarungan]. But, that is an exercise of his discretion ‘yung pag-a-assign ng spokesperson (the appointment of a spokesperson),” Garcia said during the destruction of defective and roadshow ballots in Quezon City.
“Siguro ang nasa isip lang ni chairman, he wants Director James to focus on the information and education ang dami kasing fake news na naglipana na ngayon. Hindi naman pwede na spokesperson ka na nga tapos kakalabanin ‘yung fake news, disinformation, misinformation that we have right now in social media,” Garcia pointed out.
(I think, what the chairman had in mind was to let Director James Jimenez focus on Comelec Information and Education Department because of the proliferation of disinformation. It would be difficult to combat misinformation in social media, while you are a spokesperson at the same time.)
Three days before the May 9 polls, the Comelec announced the designation of law department director Rex Laudiangco
ADVERTISEMENT
Jimenez remains as the director of the Comelec’s Education and Information Department, a post he held since 2004.
Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay earlier recommended that Jimenez be relieved from his posts in connection with the controversy that led to the cancelation of the final presidential and vice presidential debates.
Jimenez congratulated Laudiangco on his new designation.
“I heartily congratulate Director John Rex Laudiangco on his designation as Spokesperson of the Commission, and wish him all the best,” he said in a statement.
“For my part, I shall continue to serve as faithfully as I have these past 18 years, with due deference to the will and wisdom of the Commission,” he added. —LBG, GMA News