FALSE: Comelec spokesperson Jimenez removed from post

At a glance

• Claim: President Rodrigo Duterte removes Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez from his post.
• Rating: FALSE
• The facts: As of writing, there have been no published memoranda ordering the removal of Jimenez. Also, his post, as director of the Education and Information Department, is not directly appointed by the President.
• Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video containing the claim was submitted in the Facebook Group “Fact-checking in the Philippines” for review. As of writing, the video, published on May 22, 2021, has garnered 150,000 views and over 4,500 likes.

Complete details

YouTube channel “BANAT NEWS TV” published a video on May 22, 2021, entitled, “JUST IN : FINALLY! PRES DUTERTE, TINANGGAL na sa PWESTO COMELEC OPISYALS JIMENEZ LENI DILAW4N IYAK.” (Finally! President Duterte removes Comelec official Jimenez; Leni, Yellow Crowd cry.)

Twenty-four hours after publishing, the video has gained over 150,000 views and over 4,500 likes. Similar posts about Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez supposedly being removed from his post by President Rodrigo Duterte have circulated on Facebook. The video reports that Jimenez is to be replaced following the balasahan (shuffling) of Comelec officials.

These claims are false.

As of writing, there have been no published memoranda ordering the removal of Jimenez. Also, his current position is not in the list of vacant positions under Comelec.

According to Article IX-C of the Constitution, only the Comelec chairman and commissioners are directly appointed by the President. Jimenez doesn’t hold any of these positions. He is the director of the Education and Information Department of Comelec.

The Constitution also defines the term of office of appointed commissioners, a setup that does not allow for any “shuffling.” A commissioner can only be removed through impeachment.

President Duterte will, however, be able to appoint three more Comelec officials since commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Antonio Kho Jr., as well as chairman Sheriff Abas, are ending their terms in February 2022. By the 2022 elections in May, all Comelec commissioners will have been Duterte appointees, as Guanzon is the sole current commissioner appointed by the Aquino administration. – Dylan Salcedo/Rappler.com

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