Comelec's ex-campaign finance chief now temporary chief

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections en banc voted Commissioner Christian Robert Lim was voted as the poll body's acting chair on Tuesday.

According to Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, all commissioners voted Lim as their acting chief.

“While in executive session, they unanimously voted to select Commissioner Christian Robert Lim as acting chair of the commission in the meantime na wala pang chairman na ina-apoint ang presidente, (while the president has not yet appointed a chairman),” Jimenez said.

Lim’s temporary appointment came after President Rodrigo Duterte said the resignation of former poll chief Juan Andres “Andy” Bautista, initially effective at the end of the year, is effective immediately. Bautista tendered his resignation on October 11 but planned to stay until yearend so the president would have time to pick a new chief.

Prior to his resignation, six Comelec commissioners — Christian Robert, Rowena Guanzon, Al Parreño, Luie Tito Guia, Arthur Lim, and Sheriff Abas – asked Bautista to take a leave or quit his post amid the controversies he is facing.

READ: Poll commissioners urge Bautista go on leave or quit amid impeachment woes

Guanzon earlier said they were eyeing to have Lim as the officer-in-charge once Bautista went on leave since he has experience in elections management.

Acting chairman Lim is the former head of the Comelec Campaign Finance Office but he tendered his resignation from the post in June 2016 after the Comelec extended the deadline for the filing of the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures.