Comelec bans movement of foreign service officers due to poll duties
By AJ Siytangco
Published May 2, 2018 04:23 pm
By Leslie Ann Aquino
Starting May 13, 2018, no officer or member of the foreign service corps, including those belonging in the attached agencies, shall be transferred, promoted, extended, recalled, or otherwise moved from their current posts or positions.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
The Commission on Elections said this is for purposes of the May 13, 2019, National Elections.
In Resolution No. 10312, the poll body said the ban which will last until August 11, 2019, is necessary since members of the foreign service corps and other government agencies maintaining offices at the embassies, consulates, labor offices and other foreign service establishments abroad, have been "deputized" in the conduct of registration and they shall be involved in the conduct of voting, counting, and canvassing for overseas voting.
The Comelec said such prohibition is required under the Overseas Voting Act of 2013 which states that: no officer or member of the foreign service corps, including those belonging to attached agencies, shall be transferred, promoted, extended recalled or otherwise moved from his current post or position one year before and three months after the day of elections, except upon the approval of the Commission, through the Commissioner-in-charge of the Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV).
Requests for authority to transfer, promote, extend, recall, or move the members of the foreign service corps must be: in writing and duly signed by the head of agency or representative; the name/s of the officer/s or personnel and their current postings and next assignments are specifically provided; the cause/s or reason/s for the transfer, promotion, extension, recall or movement are specifically stated; and duly certified by the requesting officer that the officer/s or personnel to be transferred, promoted, extended, recalled or moved, are not deputized by the Commission for registration or election.
According to the Comelec, all written requests shall be submitted to the OFOV at the 7th floor of the Palacio del Gobernador Bldg. in Intramuros, Manila for determination of the sufficiency of the request.
"Upon evaluation, the OFOV shall submit a recommendation to the Commissioner in charge who shall take appropriate action on the said request," read the resolution.
The overseas voting period for the 2019 elections is from April 13, 2019, to May 13, 2019.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
The Commission on Elections said this is for purposes of the May 13, 2019, National Elections.
In Resolution No. 10312, the poll body said the ban which will last until August 11, 2019, is necessary since members of the foreign service corps and other government agencies maintaining offices at the embassies, consulates, labor offices and other foreign service establishments abroad, have been "deputized" in the conduct of registration and they shall be involved in the conduct of voting, counting, and canvassing for overseas voting.
The Comelec said such prohibition is required under the Overseas Voting Act of 2013 which states that: no officer or member of the foreign service corps, including those belonging to attached agencies, shall be transferred, promoted, extended recalled or otherwise moved from his current post or position one year before and three months after the day of elections, except upon the approval of the Commission, through the Commissioner-in-charge of the Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV).
Requests for authority to transfer, promote, extend, recall, or move the members of the foreign service corps must be: in writing and duly signed by the head of agency or representative; the name/s of the officer/s or personnel and their current postings and next assignments are specifically provided; the cause/s or reason/s for the transfer, promotion, extension, recall or movement are specifically stated; and duly certified by the requesting officer that the officer/s or personnel to be transferred, promoted, extended, recalled or moved, are not deputized by the Commission for registration or election.
According to the Comelec, all written requests shall be submitted to the OFOV at the 7th floor of the Palacio del Gobernador Bldg. in Intramuros, Manila for determination of the sufficiency of the request.
"Upon evaluation, the OFOV shall submit a recommendation to the Commissioner in charge who shall take appropriate action on the said request," read the resolution.
The overseas voting period for the 2019 elections is from April 13, 2019, to May 13, 2019.