PRESIDENT Aquino signed the appointment papers of Dean Andres D. Bautista as new chairman of the Commission on Elections and two other new Comelec commissioners on Tuesday last week but the Palace announced it only on Monday.
Also appointed to fill up remaining vacant seats in the commission were: Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon vice Lucenito Tagle and Sheriff M. Abas vice Elias Yusoph, for terms to expire on February 2, 2022, along with that of Bautista.
Palace Deputy Spokesman Abigail Valte, in a text message to Palace reporters, confirmed on Monday that all three appointments were signed on April 28, but that it took nearly a week to “process” their papers.
“We only announced after the papers are processed,” Valte said, adding “it is not unusual that there is a lag.”
The latest Aquino appointees to key posts in the Comelec are to be submitted shortly to Congress, which reconvened sessions also, for confirmation hearings.
The three Comelec nominees are expected to undergo further scrutiny before the Congressional Commission on Appointments, as the poll body gears up for the 2016 national and local elections.
Butch Fernandez