by Ferdinand G. Patinio, Philippine News Agency | Saturday, 18 June 2016
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Christian Robert Lim is set to resign as head of the poll body’s Campaign Finance Office (CFO) next week.
In a text message, the poll body official said he will be tendering his resignation to the Commission en banc on Monday.
Asked about the reason why he is giving up his position as CFO head, Lim said: “Di acceptable ang policy shift.” He did not elaborate.
His statement came a day after the Comelec en banc issued a decision granting the request of the Liberal Party and its presidential candidate Mar Roxas to extend the deadline for the filing of the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) of candidates in the May 9, 2016 polls.
Voting 4-3, the poll body extended the deadline, which was originally set last June 8, to June 30.
Those who voted for the extension were Commissioners Arthur Lim, Al Parreno, Sheriff Abas and Rowena Guanzon.
Aside from Commissioner Christian Robert Lim, those who voted against the extension were Commissioner Luie Guia and Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista.
A day before the Commission en banc allowed the extension, the CFO chief recommended to deny the request of the LP and Roxas.
“After careful deliberation on the said request, the Campaign Finance Office respectfully recommends the denial of the request for extension of the time,” according to his Memorandum issued on June 15.
Lim noted that granting the request would be unfair to other candidates and parties who complied within the prescribed period and would be a reversal of their own Resolution on the matter.
He added that the June 8 deadline or the “30-day period reckoned from the day of the election is hard deadline set by law in Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166.” (PNA)
