Comelec spokesman apologizes

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesman James Jimenez yesterday apologized to those he pressed to sign up as voters when his own registration had been deactivated.

“I offer my sincerest apologies to everyone I have ever badgered to register, but I take nothing back. Registration as a voter is the indispensable first step to joining the political conversation that will ultimately determine the continued democratic health of the country,” he said in his blog post titled “Stupid.”

The other day, Jimenez admitted that he would not be able to vote in the coming elections as his voter’s registration was deactivated because of his failure to vote in the May 2010 local and national polls and October 2010 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

Jimenez thought all along that his registration was active until he checked in through the Precinct Finder in the Comelec website.

“Imagine my surprise (inexcusable in hindsight) and utter dismay. Rest assured, I am completely humbled by this turn of events,” he wrote in his blog post.

He stressed, “It is every citizen’s duty and responsibility to take necessary steps to ensure that he is empowered as a voter.”

“The fact that I have failed to exercise this responsibility myself does not make me wrong about any of that. Although admittedly, it makes me all kinds of stupid,” he said.