The retirement request of Commission on Elections (Comelec) Dir. James Arthur B. Jimenez as Director IV of the Education and Information Department (EID) was approved by the poll body last Aug. 31.
In a statement, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said Jimenez “intent to avail of the optional retirement” has been granted effective in mid-September.
“The whole Comelec family expresses its gratitude and appreciations to Dir. Jimenez for his long exemplary service to the Nation through the Commission,” Garcia said.
“We wish him all the best as he embarks on this new chapter in his life,” he added.
Comelec has yet to find his replacement and is set to “start the vetting process even on an acting capacity.”
Jimenez served as Comelec’s spokesperson from 2007 to 2022.
In late April this year, Commissioner Rey Bulay recommended to the Comelec chair the temporary relief of Jimenez along with Frances Arabe from their media relations functions amid the investigation on PiliPinas Debates fiasco. – With reports from Mela Lesmoras and Alec Go