Sarmiento resigns as PPCRV chair

Rene Sarmiento has resigned as chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) four months after undergoing a head surgery.

The 64-year-old lawyer, who only served the post for almost two years, had undergone surgery for “subdural hematoma” in August 2018.

Sarmiento, a former Commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), said he had resigned from PPCRV effective August 31.

“I just finished the barangay elections and other PPCRV matters. Time to slow down,” he said.

Sarmiento’s term was supposed to end in October 2022

PPCRV Vice Chairman Johnny Cardenas will serve as interim chair of the church-backed poll watchdog until the Council elects a new head.

Sarmiento is highly credited for championing the rights and welfare of persons with disability in the electoral process by initiating measures that made registration and polling precincts accessible to PWDs nationwide.

Since the 2010 until the recent barangay polls, the PPCRV has been the “citizens’ arm” of the Comelec.

PPCRV was established in 1991 with the goal of conducting voters’ education and deploying volunteers to monitor the conduct of elections nationwide.