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Christian Lim named acting Comelec chief

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/10/24/christian-robert-lim-sixto-brillantes.jpg"/><figcaption>Poll Commissioner Christian Robert Lim with former Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes in a February 5, 2015 photo. <em>Junny Roy, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA- Poll Commissioner Christian Robert Lim has been assigned as acting chairman of the Commission on Elections.</p><p>Lim was chosen via a unanimous vote of poll commissioners present during the Comelec en banc Tuesday, the poll body&#x27;s spokesperson James Jimenez said.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Commissioner Christian Robert Lim designated acting Chairman, by unanimous vote of Commissioners present at today&#x27;s <a href="https://twitter.com/COMELEC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@COMELEC</a> en banc.</p>— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) <a href="https://twitter.com/jabjimenez/status/922673687311945730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2017</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Lim&#x27;s assignment comes after President Rodrigo Duterte accepted on Monday the resignation of Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista, effective immediately.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/23/17/duterte-accepts-bautista-resignation-effective-immediately">READ: Duterte accepts Bautista resignation &#x27;effective immediately&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>Duterte&#x27;s decision was contrary to Bautista&#x27;s earlier announcement that he will only step down from his post by the end of the year.</p><p>Jimenez also said Bautista no longer reported for work Tuesday.</p><p>In a text message sent to ABS-CBN News, Bautista said he might drop by his former office in the coming days to get his things.</p><p>Lim, however, has already laid out a roadmap of activities for the coming days, Jimenez said.</p><p>Lim, the most senior among commissioners, started his term last April 7, 2011 and will retire by February 2, 2018.</p><p>This means that if the poll body applied the old process of selecting an acting chair, which did not require voting, Lim would still be chosen due to seniority.</p><p>Lim also acted as chairman of Comelec during the retirement of the election body&#x27;s former head, Sixto Brilliantes. Lim handled the initial preparations for the 2016 presidential elections which was won by Duterte.</p><p>Last month, Lim was accused by former Biliran Rep. Glenn Chong of committing graft and corruption in relation to the contract negotiations with Smartmatic TIM Corporation.</p><p>Chong also accused Lim of trying to manipulate the other poll commissioners to remove Bautista so that he could take over as acting Comelec chief.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/04/17/comelec-commissioner-faces-graft-serious-misconduct-raps">READ: Comelec commissioner faces graft, serious misconduct raps</a></li></ul><p>Lim will act as Comelec chairman until the President appoints an interim chairman who will have to serve Bautista&#x27;s unfinished term.</p><div><strong>-with a report from Zen Hernandez, ABS- CBN News</strong></div>

<p>Poll Commissioner Christian Robert Lim has been assigned as acting chairman of the Commission on Elections Tuesday.</p>

Poll Commissioner Christian Robert Lim has been assigned as acting chairman of the Commission on Elections Tuesday.