CA confirms 2 Cabinet men

MANILA — The 25-member Commission on Appointments on Wednesday confirmed the interim nomination of two Cabinet members, four ambassadors and a member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

It was the bicameral body's last session as Congress adjourns for All Saints' Day.

Gaining the CA's nod were Salvador Campo Medialdea as Executive Secretary and Delfin M. Lorenzana as Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary. They are the sixth and seventh Cabinet members confirmed so far by the constitutional body.

CA members led by Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin M. Drilon, Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto and Representative Ronaldo B. Zamora, concurrent CA vice chairman, said the two Cabinet members were more than qualified to hold their posts.

"Clearly, he exceeds all qualifications for the post, and most important, with three Executive Secretaries in the hall today completely agreeing that the nominee is fit for the job, then who am I to even doubt the opinion of these legal heavyweights," Recto said during his endorsement.

Recto said that Medialdea has the fortitude to withstand pressure, the ethics to resist temptation, the skill to lead people, and the discipline to deliver, in full and on time, what has been promised.

"These traits must be found in someone who will discharge duties of an ES, plus there are more which are not even in the fine print of the job description of what has been called the Little President," Recto said.

Recto said that "And these are: to do heavy but unheralded labor; to endlessly chase papers but never publicity; to run a tight ship, including whipping the egos of alter egos into line."

"Thankfully, the nominee has these, and more. He also has down-to-earth humility and disarming humor," Recto said.

Meanwhile, confirmed as JBC member representing the private sector was Toribio Elises Ilao Jr.

Confirmed as ambassadors were Charles Cabayan Jose to Malaysia; Philippe Jones Lhuillier to Spain; Antonio Manuel Revilla Lagdameo to the United Kingdom of Great Britain; and Alan L. Timbayan to Qatar.

BRUNEI ENVOY BYPASSED

However, the CA also bypassed – after failing to get clear answers to their queries – the confirmation of the nomination of lawyer James T. Lao as Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam.

Asked why Lao flunked the question and answer phase of the confirmation process under the CA Committee on Foreign Relations chaired by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, Drilon replied:

''The problem is more than preparation, because he knew that he was going to face the Commission and the president just came from a state visit to Brunei. He does not know what happened there, he does not know what agreements were signed, he does not have a clear picture of what he will do in Brunei in terms of programs," Drilon said.

''I am disappointed at the responses of Attorney Lao,'' he added.

Asked if Malacañang should replace Lao, Drilon replied: ''He should be bypassed. Whether or not the president will reappoint him during the recess is a decision on the part of the president.''

DFA officials appeared dejected following the decision of the CA in Lao's case, as they had prepared Lao for his CA appearance.

The Senate and the House of Representatives go on a two-week recess starting Friday.