At least 10 regional directors of the Commission of Election (Comelec) have been given new assignments to other provinces to prevent election fraud and cheating in the May 10 elections.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo said that the reshuffle of the poll body's regional directors took effect by virtue of a resolution exempting them from the ban to reassign government officials and employees during election period.

Among the directors affected by the reshuffle was Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Comelec director and lawyer Ray Sumalipao.

“We reassigned Atty. Sumalipao from ARMM to Davao,” said Melo in a media briefing.

But the Comelec official was not able to disclose the identities of the remaining personnel who were transferred to other areas since its en banc has yet to promulgate the said resolution enlisting all the names subject for reassignment.

By next week, he added the Comelec en banc will also issue another resolution to reassign provincial election supervisors (PES) to other areas in preparation for the May polls.

It can be recalled that Sumalipao was allegedly linked to the “Hello Garci” scandal in the 2004 elections so Melo wanted him not to be involved to any controversy in the upcoming automated polls.

“I am not saying he is guilty in the alleged ‘Hello Garci’ scandal, but the perception of the public na sangkot ka diyan (that he was really involved). As an administrator of this office, I have to transfer him,” Melo said, adding that Sumalipao has no resistance on the order of his transfer. (Raymund Antonio)