MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed the appointment of Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Arthur Lim on Wednesday, March 11.

The Comelec, however, still lacks a chairman and two commissioners.

Lim, a private prosecutor in the impeachment trial of dismissed chief justice Renato Corona, will serve the unexpired term of former Comelec commissioner Grace Padaca until February 2, 2018.

President Benigno Aquino III appointed Lim to the Comelec in 2014 after the CA bypassed Padaca and the President didn’t reappoint her. 

The Philippine Constitution requires Comelec commissioners, heads of executive departments, ambassadors, and officers of the armed forces, among others, to get the CA’s confirmation after the President appointed them. (READ: Confirmation limbo: Long but futile process?)

After his confirmation on Wednesday, Lim told reporters he is “very humbled.”

‘Thing of the past’

He added that he has reached out to Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, who objected to his confirmation in 2014. “That is a thing of the past. I’m now confirmed,” he said.

Lim was the prosecutor whom Santiago scolded during Corona’s impeachment trial in 2012.

Santiago berated him because he insisted to include Corona’s alleged violation of an anti-corruption law in the articles of impeachment. Santiago also said Lim should stop “screaming” during the impeachment proceedings.

Lim’s confirmation came as the Comelec prepares for the 2016 elections without 3 members. (READ: Comelec: No manual polls despite failed PCOS bidding)

Aquino has not appointed a new Comelec chairman and two commissioners after then Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr and commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph retired from the poll body on February 2. 

Comelec acting chairman Christian Lim, the poll body’s most senior commissioner, is leading the Comelec in the meantime. – Rappler.com