(UPDATED) President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former Justice secretary Agnes Devanadera as the new chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner Sheriff Abas as the poll body's new chair.
Devanadera replaced dismissed ERC chairman Jose Salazar, who has been found guilty of simple and grave misconduct in connection with the corruption allegations against him.
Abas, on the other hand, replaced Andres Bautista, who resigned last month after majority of the members of the House of Representatives voted to overturn the committee on justice's report dismissing the impeachment complaint filed against him.
Bautista was accused of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust. His estranged wife alleged that Bautista has ill-gotten wealth.
Devanadera served as the acting Department of Justice chief during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2007.
Prior to that, she also served as the first woman solicitor general in the Philippines.
Duterte fired Salazar last October, after he was found to have usurped the power of the ERC when he issued orders in connection with the application for the renewal of the electric power purchase agreements between FDC Utilities, Inc. – Misamis and several distribution utilities, and when he appointed certain ERC officials and employees without the imprimatur of the other commissioners.
Salazar was also found to have influenced the process of procuring the ERC's audio visual project to ensure that his favored suppliers will get the contract.
Abas, meanwhile, is the nephew of Moro Islamic Liberation Front Chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal.
Prior to being Comelec commissioner in 2015, Abas headed the poll body's packing and shipping committee.
Before he was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III to the Comelec in 2015, Abas served as the acting assistant regional director of the Civil Service Commission in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
He has a law degree from the Ateneo de Davao University in 2004. (SunStar Philippines)