CA confirms Abas as new Comelec chair

The Commission on Appointments confirmed Wednesday the appointment of Sheriff Abas as chairman of the Commission on Elections, replacing resigned poll chief Andres Bautista.

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Abas is the first Muslim elections chief.

Malacañang welcomed Abas' confirmation and vouched for his ability to lead the Comelec.

"We are confident that Chairperson Abas would carry out his duties with integrity, excellence and competence to regain public trust in the electoral body," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

Abas will have a term expiring on February 2, 2022.

He was first appointed as commissioner by former President Benigno Aquino III in 2015.

He also served as acting assistant regional director of the Civil Service Commission in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao prior to his appointment as poll commissioner.

Abas is a nephew of Moro Islamic Liberation Front chief (MILF) negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.

He acquired an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Notre Dame University in Cotabato City. He earned his law degree from the Ateneo de Davao University in 2004. — Amita Legaspi and Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News