Sarmiento, Bautista get CA nod

DILG Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

The powerful Commission of Appointments confirmed on Tuesday the appointments of Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Andres Bautista.

READ: CA panel recommends Sarmiento’s confirmation as DILG chief

No member of the CA objected when separate motions were made on the floor to confirm the appointments of the two Cabinet members.

Senate President Franklin Drilon presided over the confirmation hearing.

Sarmiento took the place of former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, who declared his presidential bid in 2016. Both Sarmiento and Roxas belong to President Benigno Aquino’s Liberal Party. Bautista, meanwhile, replaced former elections chairman Sixto Brillantes.

The confirmation of Bautista’s appointment was deferred on September 2 on the motion of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, over the alleged missing results involving 12 million votes in 2013. Maila Ager/IDL

READ: Comelec chair Bautista fails to get CA confirmation