Personal, health reasons behind James Jimenez's early retirement —Garcia

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia on Monday said health and personal reasons are behind Education and Information Department Director James Jimenez's early retirement.

"Masyado pong personal ang rason ni Director James Jimenez pero siyempre kasama na rin po diyan yung kanyang kalusugan [His reasons are too personal and it includes his health]," Garcia said in a radio interview.

According to Garcia, Jimenez signified his intention to avail of the optional retirement two weeks ago but it was not immediately granted by the Comelec en banc as they wanted to discuss the reasons with the former Comelec spokesperson.

The Comelec en banc only granted Jimenez's retirement request on August 31, Garcia said.

Jimenez's retirement will be effective on September 16, he added.

Jimenez has been the director of the Comelec’s Education and Information Department since 2004 and the poll body spokesperson from 2007 until early May this year.

He was relieved of his duties as spokesman in connection with the controversy that led to the cancelation of the final presidential and vice presidential debates for the May 2022 elections.

Despite this, Garcia said the fact-finding investigation on the cancellation of the debates will still push through. However, he clarified that the probe is not "centered" on Jimenez but also on the other entities and individuals involved in the awarding of contract and other processes for the conduct of the debates.

"'Yung kay Director Jimenez, siya ay maaring isa lamang sa mga kasama sa subject ng fact-finding investigation. Take note po wala pa pong pormal na kaso ang Commission on Elections laban sa kanino man o lalo na laban po kay Director James Jimenez. Kung kaya 'yung kanyang optional retirement ay separate sa ginagawa naming fact-finding investigation," Garcia said.

"At kung anu't ano man po ang maging produkto ng fact-finding investigation ay pupwede pa rin po naming gawan ng paraan yung lahat ng maaring ma-involve o lahat ng magiging result ng fact-finding investigation na yan," he added.

(Director Jimenez is just one of the persons who are subjects of the fact-finding investigation. Take note that the Commission on Elections has not filed any formal complaint yet against anyone or against Director James Jimenez. Hence, his optional retirement is separate from the fact-finding investigation. Whatever the result of the investigation may be, we will always find a way to make those involved accountable.)

Garcia said the result of the investigation could be tackled during the en banc session on Wednesday. He is hoping that the result of the probe will be out before the end of September.

"Hopefully po, magkaroon na kami ng determinasyon o ng initial na pag-uusap patungkol diyan upang kahit papaano before the end of the September na ito ay matapos na po at mailabas namin sa publiko ang result ng aming imbestigasyon," he said. —KBK, GMA News