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WE have finally heard from the Commission on
Appointments, courtesy of the Philippine Star, and the news
is—disappointing.
It turns out that after all these
months since the Fourteenth Congress opened, the commission has not
confirmed any Cabinet appointee nominated by President Gloria
Arroyo.
The Constitution says that the CA
shall act on all appointments submitted to it within 30 session days
of the Congress from their submission.
The news from Rep. Rodolfo Albano
3rd of Isabela is that the bicameral group has bypassed 11 of the
nominees.
Why only 11? There are about 20
Cabinet departments plus a number of presidential appointees with
Cabinet rank. Where the others confirmed or not?
Albano told the paper that the
Elite Eleven “are considered bypassed as of last Friday [Oct. 12]
when Congress adjourned for a three-week recess.”
Among the 11 are Finance
Secretary Margarito Teves, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.,
Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza and
Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr.
We infer from Albano’s
statement that the nominees have not complied with the
commission’s “documentary requirements.” Nominees are required
to submit a detailed résumé, a statement of assets, liabilities
and net worth, income-tax documents and related papers.
Of course if a
secretary-designate could not reconcile his assets with his income,
he will have to sanitize his SAL or postpone submitting it.
Albano did not say if the
commission received derogatory information on any nominee that
requires checking and, if substantiated, could disqualify the
appointee.
What has the CA achieved since
the Fourteenth Congress opened its first regular session on July 23?
It has confirmed the promotion of 28 military officers on the
recommendation of Albano, who chairs the defense committee.
We have not heard any complaint
from Secretary Teves and company about the commission dragging its
feet on their confirmation. Albano’s statement must be correct.
Of course we have heard that some
candidates are nervous about facing the members of the commission,
fearing a shakedown or solicitations of favors, cash or material.
Membership in the group includes 12 congressmen and 12 senators,
with the Senate President as ex officio chairman.
Charges of corruption rocked the
commission a few months back when a number of Cabinet members
complained they were asked a favor for their confirmation.
The quid pro quo, according to
the complaints, included the appointment of the lawmakers’
relatives or friends to the department headed by the prospective
secretary, unofficial inclusion (the 15-30 payday deal) in the
department payroll and considerations of public-works projects at
the expense of better funded departments.
Rep. Herminio Teves went one step
further and accused some of his peers of asking P5 million from his
son, the finance secretary, in exchange for confirmation.
Congressional watchers have
observed that while the senators vote independently on the nominees,
the congressmen tend to vote as a block. This makes them a
formidable machine.
We suggest that the CA name the
candidates who have submitted the required nomination papers but
have not been confirmed, as well as the people who have not complied
with the commission’s rules, hence cannot be scheduled for
confirmation.
Meanwhile the
secretaries-designate will stay on their job without the benefit of
confirmation, which would have conferred on them constitutional
legitimacy. In a perfect world, confirmation means the nominees have
gone through rigorous examination for character and fitness for
office.
Now they need reappointment by
the President and must wait for confirmation until Congress resumes
session in mid-November.
Does all of this sound familiar
to you?
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