CA may continue secret voting on appointees

The powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) will most likely stick to its newly adopted policy of secret voting on the confirmation or rejection of Cabinet appointees, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano lll said yesterday.

Albano, who is CA majority leader, said the “compelling reason” for the adoption of secret voting “is to protect members from any backlash or reprisal arising from their votes.”

He said it is possible that groups supporting a certain Cabinet appointee might take it against CA members who vote to bypass or reject him or her.

He added that another reason for secret voting “is to shield CA members from pressure from lobby groups.”

“If they don’t know how we will vote, then they might not subject us to pressure,” he said.

Earlier, CA member Sen. Panfilo Lacson said secret voting was adopted as some members of the commission feared the New People’s Army might ambush them in their provinces if they voted against Cabinet appointees endorsed by the communist movement.

Lacson said the fears are not entirely without basis, and that he could understand the apprehensions of his colleagues.

On May 3, the CA, through a secret vote, rejected the appointment of former environment secretary Gina Lopez, one of the Cabinet members supported by the communist-led National Democratic Front (NDF), though she was not among its nominees.

After the rejection, at least eight senators claimed they voted for Lopez.

Lacson disputed the claim, saying there were fewer votes for the rejected environment secretary. But he could not disclose the actual vote due to the secret voting policy.

In the wake of the controversy, there were calls for the CA to junk the policy, as it promoted lack of transparency and accountability on the part of the commission and its members.