Duterte renominates Abas as Comelec chief

Sheriff Abas

President Rodrigo Duterte has again nominated Sheriff Abas as chair of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), replacing Andres Bautista who resigned amid allegations he has unexplained wealth.

On November 22, 2017, Duterte named Abas as Comelec chief but his nomination was deemed bypassed since the powerful Commission on Appointments did not act on his appointment before Congress went on a holiday recess.

Duterte again signed the nomination of Abas on January 16.

Abas, a nephew of Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) Mohagher Iqbal, was appointed to Comelec in 2015 by former president Benigno Aquino III.

Aside from Abas, the President also appointed Anselmo Pinili as member of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to serve the unexpired term of Jorge Corpuz until June 30, 2018.

Corpuz resigned earlier resigned this January due to “to health reasons.”