Lim says LP affiliation won't affect his job

MANILA, Philippines -  Newly appointed Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Christian Robert Lim clarified yesterday that his affiliation with the administration’s Liberal Party (LP) would not compromise his job at the commission.

“First of all, I’m not a politician. In my election work, I have never participated in the campaign. It’s more of the legal aspect,” said Lim, who was part of the Bantay Balota team of the tandem of then presidential candidate Benigno Aquino III and vice presidential bet Manuel Roxas II.

The Bantay Balota team prepared contingency measures in case of a “no election” scenario last year.

Lim said that his priority is to help the Comelec in the preparations for the Aug. 8 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“We hope that we can still refine the automation process in the ARMM elections. This will further showcase the automation of the elections,” he added.

He said that he was surprised when he was informed that President Aquino had chosen him to replace retired Comelec commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal because he was not even in the shortlist of possible replacements.

“I was really surprised (that) I ended up in the Comelec” Lim added.