MANILA — Ten days before Election Day, the Commission on Elections could be without its main spokesperson and his deputy due to the Pilipinas Debates 2022 Fiasco.

A Comelec task force on Friday recommended the "temporary relief" of the poll body's longtime spokesman James Jimenez and another director following their alleged roles in the controversial deal with debate organizer Impact Hub Manila.

• Leaked memo: Is Comelec shouldering Impact Hub's P14M debt to Sofitel?
• Comelec's P15-million payout to Impact Hub 'on hold': exec

"In the interest of the service, Commissioner Rey Bulay recommended that Directors James Jimenez and Frances Arabe be temporarily relieved from any functions involving media relations and exposure," the press release read.

Both Jimenez and Arabe are directors of the Comelec Education in Information Department.

• Comelec, KBP ink deal to salvage botched presidential, VP debates

Jimenez and Arabe have not yet responded to requests for comment. Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan has not announced any action on the recommendation.

Internal Comelec documents showed the 2 were main players in the deal with Impact Hub, a startup tapped to mount this year's debates, which eventually faltered.

Bulay, who heads the task force probing the fiasco, said Jimenez and Arabe may continue their other functions "under the supervision of their committee heads.”

The commissioner also said after initial investigation, the task force "found reasonable cause to commence a formal fact-finding and administrative disciplinary investigation."

BOUNCING CHECKS, POSTPONED DEBATES

The Comelec's final series of debates was postponed last week after a contractor failed to pay Sofitel Philippine Plaza for hosting the first part of the debates.

• Last leg of Comelec debates postponed amid contractor's payment mess

Watch more News on iWantTFC

In a document obtained by ABS-CBN News, Sofitel Philippine Plaza said it will "suspend all its remaining deliverables under the event contract" unless organizer Impact Hub pays up the remaining P14 million for their services.

Impact Hub is the company tapped by Comelec to mount its series of debates dubbed as "PiliPinas Debates 2022: The Turning Point."

Sofitel was the venue for the March 19 and 20 and April 3 debates.

In its demand letter dated April 20, Sofitel said Impact Hub's Celeste Eden Rondario repeatedly issued them bouncing checks.

For its part, Impact Hub described its failure to pay Sofitel for hosting the events as a misunderstanding and miscommunication, saying it will discuss "privately" its payment mess with Sofitel and other stakeholders.

• Impact Hub Manila to discuss payment mess 'privately' with Sofitel

Last week, a memo from Bulay's office said the commissioner learned that Jimenez and Arabe tried to release Comelec funds to Impact Hub Manila after its check payments to Sofitel were dishonored by the bank.

"I also learned that the EID through Directors Jimenez and Arabe have already requested and certified the release of funds through Purchase Requests, which they have submitted to Chairman Saidmen B. Pangarungan and Commissioner Socorro Inting, who signed the same," Bulay said.

He maintained that debates are done without any expense from the poll body.

"Nowhere can we find any Resolution or contract which properly underwent the rigorous review of the Legal Department and the stringent requirements of RA No. 9184 where it says that Comelec shall pay any person or entity any amount for the conduct of these debates. Thus for any release of public funds on this matter, I vehemently object as it would be criminal.” Bulay said in his memo.

He added: "I also discovered that there is such thing as 'counterpart' money that Comelec will pay Impact Hub. Again, no one was able to cite any basis for the release of public funds for this intended expenditure."

Bulay warned that Comelec paying Sofitel would mean covering up for Impact Hub Manila.

"While others are considering releasing P15,000,000.00 from Comelec funds to pay Sofitel, no one was able to cite the basis for the release of such funds. Impact Hub contracted Sofitel for the venue, and Impact Hub obligated itself to pay Sofitel. It is clear that Comelec has no contractual relationship with Sofitel. Therefore there is no basis for the Comelec to release P15,000,000 of public funds in favor of Sofitel. If Comelec releases P15,000,000 of public funds, Comelec will be paying on behalf of Impact Hub," he said.

Bulay also noted that Impact Hub Manila was contractually allowed by Comelec to sell advertising airtime, which further raises questions on their inability to pay.

"Thus if if Impact Hub has profited from the conduct of the debates by selling airtime for commercials and advertisements to interested advertisers and sponsors, all the more reason I am suspicious and dubious of Impact Hub. Their repeated inability to pay, despite demands, and their propensity to repeatedly issue bouncing checks speaks of a sordid character, which now affected the Comelec,” he said.

Watch more News on iWantTFC

TASK FORCE

He also cited a letter from the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas, the new partner of the debates for April 30 and May 1, dated April 7 addressed to Chairman Pangarungan through Commissioner George Garcia, where the KBP offered airtime and production of the debates at no cost to the poll body.

"However it was revealed in their letter that they were required to air 15 minutes worth of commercials solicited by the Commissioner and/or Organizers—a statement that easily caught my attention,” he said.

The commissioner has recommended severing ties with Impact Hub by rescinding the agreement.

Bulay said those involved in the fiasco will face disciplinary proceedings.

“As much as possible, while the investigation is ongoing, Commissioner Bulay cannot release information on the issue to avoid a trial by publicity; to preserve the dignity of the procedures; and considering that government officials enjoy the presumption of regularity in the performance of official duties," he added.

Watch more News on iWantTFC