Resurreccion Z. Borra, former COMELEC Commissioner, dies at 85

Commissioner Resurrecion Z. Borra, or Comm Rex as he was called by almost everyone in the COMELEC, was talked about in awed tones. Like he was legend. It was a reputation he deserved. Borra was one of the original 400 lawyers of the COMELEC who served as field officers in the earliest days of the Commission. Despite being related to former Chairman Juan Borra, Comm Rex had to work his way up through the ranks, just like everyone else. In 1992, he left the post of Regional Director of Region XI and assumed the office of Executive Director – a position he held until he retired. In 2000, he was appointed Commissioner. As many pointed out – he was as a Commissioner, exactly as he had been when he was just another COMELEC employee. He remained approachable and completely dedicated to the work of the Commission. Most importantly, he was always on the look out for the interests of the rank and file. During his time as Commissioner, Borra oversaw key parts of the COMELEC’s Modernization Program, continuing the work began by the Commission in 1992 with Oplan Modex. Despite the serious setbacks suffered by the modernization program in 2004, the work Borra did on the automation of elections would be part of the foundations of the successful automation of elections in the ARMM in 2008, and nationwide in 2010. He retired in 2008 after having served under two COMELEC Chairmen – Benipayo and Benjamin S. Abalos – and after having himself served as Acting Chairman. An excellent civil servant, an uncompromising champion of the COMELEC, and a dear friend of the rank and file, Comm Rex will be sorely missed.