Comelec exec denies role in wife’s reelection bid

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines — The chief of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Eastern Visayas has denied any involvement in the reelection bid of his mayor-wife.

As part of the Comelec ruling on the reshuffle of its officers for the upcoming May 9 general elections, Comelec regional director Jose Nick Mendros was transferred to Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan).

Mendros said he was not involved in the political activities of his wife, Lawaan town Mayor Athena Mendros, who is seeking reelection in the upcoming May polls.

In the past elections, when his wife ran for vice mayor and mayor, Mendros said he was also transferred to other regions.

He said that in July last year, he asked the Comelec central office to transfer him to prevent suspicions that he would influence the results of the elections as his wife would seek a second term.

“As a public servant, I would never destroy the integrity and independence of the Comelec, the integrity of my wife, and the fair and clean political situation in our town,” Mendros said.

Despite his transfer to Mimaropa, there have been allegations that he is interfering with the political activities of his wife, such as holding meetings with political leaders, which he denied.

“I am far from Lawaan. I am even in Manila now. As early as July last year, I asked the central office to reassign me somewhere else. I was detailed in Mimaropa to avoid being accused of politicking,” Mendros said.

He downplayed the photos circulating on social media, which allegedly showed him in a cockpit arena in Barangay Maslog in Lawaan.

“The cockfight was legal and there was a permit,” Mendros said, although he did not confirm or deny if it was him in the photos.