Sheriff Abas

Last updated
Sheriff Abas
Chairperson of the Commission on Elections
In office
November 22, 2017 – February 2, 2022
interim until May 23, 2018

Sheriff Manimbayan Abas [1] (born May 5, 1979) is a Filipino lawyer who served as chairman of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) from 2017 to 2022, overseeing the 2018 barangay elections, the 2019 Bangsamoro autonomy plebiscite, and the 2019 general election. Aged 38 at his appointment, he is the youngest person and the first Muslim to serve as COMELEC chairman. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life and education

Sheriff M. Abbas was born on May 5, 1979. He attended the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City where he obtained a degree in philosophy in 1999. He finished his law studies at the Ateneo de Davao University in 2004 and passed the Philippine Bar Examinations the following year. [3]

Career

Civil Service Commission

Abas worked at the now defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) office of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) as a lawyer and acting assistant regional director. [3] [4] He was with the CSC from June 2007 to April 2015. [5]

Commission on Election

President Rodrigo Duterte (standing, left) receives the result of the 2019 Bangsamoro plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law, from COMELEC Chairman Abas during a ceremony at the Malacanang Palace. BOL plebiscite ceremonial confirmation of results 2.jpg
President Rodrigo Duterte (standing, left) receives the result of the 2019 Bangsamoro plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law, from COMELEC Chairman Abas during a ceremony at the Malacañang Palace.

Abas was appointed as a commissioner for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in 2015 by president Benigno Aquino III on April 28, 2015. [6] His appointment was questioned due to his then unconfirmed relationship with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal and according to critics his supposed lack of reputation among Muslim lawyers. His assignment to the Comelec came in when the Bangsamoro Basic Law, the proposed charter of a Bangsamoro autonomous region is still being debated in the Congress causing concerns that the MILF may have undue influence in a future plebiscite. [4]

Abas was later appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to be the Comelec chairman through a directive on November 22, 2017 succeeding Andres Bautista who resigned the prior month. [7] [8] He became the first Comelec chairman who is from Mindanao and the first Muslim head. He is also the youngest election chief at age 38. [2] He is also the first commissioner to be promoted to chairman. [9] He oversaw the conduct of the Bangsamoro autonomy plebiscite in January and February 2019 and the Philippine mid-term general elections in May of the same year. [10] [11]

Abas retired from the Comelec after his term as chairman expired on February 2, 2022 as scheduled. [7] [11]

2025 Bangsamoro Parliament election

Abas on November 6, 2024 filed his candidacy to run for the position of representative of the 1st parliamentary district of Cotabato City at the Bangsamoro Parliament for the 2025 election. [9] [12]

Personal life

Abas is the nephew of Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal. [6] [2] He is from the province of Maguindanao. [13] He was also a lecturer for Notre Dame University for three years. [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 Santos, Tina G.; Yap, DJ (May 24, 2018). "Abas gets CA nod as Comelec chair". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Paterno, Esmaquel II (24 November 2017). "Sheriff Abas to break many firsts as Comelec chair". Rappler. Retrieved 21 November 2024.(subscription required)
  3. 1 2 Hilotin, Jay (14 May 2019). "Meet Sheriff Abas, 40, youngest chief of the powerful Philippine election commission". Gulf News. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 Tiongson-Mayrina, Karen (24 November 2017). "New Comelec chair Abas' ties to MILF's Iqbal led to longer CA scrutiny in 2015". GMA News. GMA News Research. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  5. ↑ "Commissioner Sheriff M. Abas". 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 10 November 2017.
  6. 1 2 Hegina, Aries Joseph (14 May 2015). "Is Abbas' appointment move to peddle MILF influence in Comelec?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  7. 1 2 Rocamora, Joyce Ann (24 November 2017). "Abas replaces Bautista as Comelec chairman". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  8. ↑ "Kumpirmado | Commission on Appointments, kinumpirma si Sheriff Abas bilang bagong COMELEC Chairman" [Confirmed | Commission on Appointments, confirmed Sheriff Abas as new COMELEC Chairman]. RMN Networks (in Filipino). 24 May 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  9. 1 2 Cabrera, Ferdinandh (6 November 2024). "Ex-Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas seeks Cotabato seat in BARMM parliament". Rappler. Archived from the original on 11 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  10. ↑ Ranada, Pia (19 January 2019). "Key personalities who will make or break the Bangsamoro plebiscite". Rappler. Archived from the original on 17 July 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  11. 1 2 Patinio, Ferdinand (2 February 2022). "Abas cites 'milestones' under his tenure as Comelec chief". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  12. ↑ Baron, Gabriela (6 November 2024). "Ex-Comelec chair files COC for district representative". Daily Tribune. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  13. ↑ Sy, Marvin (24 May 2018). "Comelec chief Sheriff Abas gets Commission on Appointments nod". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
Government offices
Preceded by Comelec chairman
2017–2022		Succeeded by
Socorro B. Inting
(acting)
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