CA defers confirmation of Aquino’s appointees
MANILA — The powerful Commission on Appointments has deferred the confirmation of the interim nomination of newly appointed diplomats, and commissioners of two constitutional bodies — the Civil Service Commission and Commission on Audit — after Senate Min
However, the CA confirmed the ad- interim re- appointments and appointments of 28 senior officers of t he Armed Forces of the Philippines without opposition from the minority leader.
Senate President Franklin Drilon said that since Enrile invoked Section 20 — a right of every member that cannot be disputed when invoked, according to their Rules — the confirmation of Charles C. Jose as Ambassador to Malaysia and Denis Y. Lepatan as Ambassador to Kingdom of Norway with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Iceland, the Republic of Finland and Kingdom of Sweden, were stalled.
Also, the appointments of Celia Anna M. Feria as Ambassador to Kingdom of Spain, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Principality of Andorra; Uriel Normal R. Garibay as Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Burundi, Union of the Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Rwanda, Repub- lic of Seychelles, Federal Republic of Somalia, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Uganda, Republic of South Sudan, and as Permanent Representative to the United Nation Environmental Programme (UNEP) and United Nation Human Settlement Programme (UNI-HABITAT); and Lilybeth R. Deapera as Ambassador to the Republic of Chile with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Peru and the Republic of Ecuador, were deferred.
Also deferred were the confirmations of two commissioners: Isabel B. Dasalla- Agito for the Commission on Audit; and Nieves L. Osorio, Civil Service Commission.
Meanwhile, Drilon approved the ad-interim reappointments and appointments of Brigadier General Noel S. Clement, Brigadier General Ronnie S. Evangelista, Navy Col. Jonathan C. Gabor, Philippine Marines, Navy Captain Aldrin B. Doctor, Lieutenant General Romeo T. Tanalgo, Major General Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., Brigadier General Nelia F. Valmonte, and Navy Colonel Raul S. Hernandez, Philippine Marines.
Lieutenant General GloriosoV. Miranda, Lieutenant General Mayoralgo M. Dela Cruz, Rear Admiral Bayani R. Gaerlan, Rear Admiral Rafael G. Mariano, Brigadier General Robert M. Arevalo, Brigadier General Dinoh A. Dolina, Brigadier General Gerry P. Amante, Brigadier General Rodel Mauro R. Alarcon, Brigadier General David B. Diciano Sr., Brigadier General Arnel B. Dela Vega, and Commodore Danilo R. Rodelas.
Army ColonelArmand M. Arevalo, Major General Arnold Rafael Y. Depakakibo, Rear Admiral Jorge F. Amba, Commodore Francisco O. Gabudao, Brigadier General Gener P. Dela Rosario, Army Colonel Harold Anthony F. Pascua, Colonel Gerudel A. Dellosa, Army Colonel Consolito P. Yecla, and Major General Job S. Yucoco.
Nonetheless, the CA committee on national defense deferred the confirmation of the interim appointments of the following AFP officers for failure to fully meet the publication requirement: Brigadier General Melquiades L. Feliciano, Army Colonel Orlando D. Edralin, Army Colonel Dennis C. Perez, Army Colonel Aniceto M. Lantano Jr. (Reserved), Army Colonel Alex S. Rillera, Colonel Norman S. Zuniega, Army Colonel Richard T. Ruffy, and Colonel Monico Abang.
The CA Rules defines Section 20 as “SUSPENSION OF CONSIDERATION OF NOMINATIONS OR APPOINTMENTS. Any member may move for the suspension of action by the Commission on any nomination or appointment favorably recommended by a standing committee and the Chairman shall suspend the consideration of said nomination or appointment: Provided, that, such suspension may be taken up on the next succeeding session of the Commission; Provided, further, that this section shall not apply to nominations or appointments taken up by the Commission during the last session prior to a sine die adjournment of Congress.”