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THE powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) opened ahead of the
second regular session of the 14th Congress and is scrutinizing the
records of two controversial officials of the Commission on
Elections (Comelec).
Poll commissioners Moslemen Macarambon and
Leonardo Leonida, who is newly appointed, are the most controversial
among seven president appointees who will be screened by the
appointments body, according to Rep. Eduardo Gullas of Cebu, head of
the House of Representatives contingent of the said body.
There are allegations Leonida has a “tainted
record” in the judiciary while Macarambon is said to be identified
with former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano, who was
involved in the “Hello Garci” controversy.
Gullas said the appointments body would
definitely address the controversial issues at the committee level,
once a hearing is set to screen the appointee.
Gullas cited published reports that the Supreme
Court had supposedly “admonished” Leonida in 2006 for violating
four rules in the Code of Judicial Conduct.
“We cannot comment further on the matter now,
simply because we do not have yet all of the appointee’s papers.
It would not be fair for us to express a view on the supposed issues
against the appointee, without first scrutinizing all the supporting
documents,” Gullas said.
The 1987 Constitution vests the appointments
body the power to approve or disapprove presidential appointments.
It is duty-bound to discharge its power with impartiality, without
partisan consideration and motivated only by the need for the
government to function efficiently and harmoniously.
Other appointees to be scrutinized
Gullas said that they will also study the
records of retired Court of Appeals Justice Lucenito Tagle and
former Sen. Orlando Mercado as the new Philippine ambassador to
China.
Also to be grilled are the reappointments of
Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza
and Civil Service Commission Chairman Ricardo Saludo.
“When the CA conducts a hearing at the
committee level, every potential issue will surely be addressed. In
fact, the CA has its own investigators to verify all the facts and
every document pertaining to an appointee,” Gullas pointed out.
“I am sure the [appointment body’s]
committee on constitutional commissions and offices chaired by Sen.
Alan Peter Cayetano, with Rep. Rodolfo Plaza of Agusan del Sur as
vice chairman, will look into the matter,” Gullas added.
The poll body’s en banc has the biggest at
stake in the next round of confirmation proceedings, with three of
its members—Macarambon, Tagle and Leonida—still awaiting
endorsement.
In June, the appointments body confirmed retired
Supreme Court Associate Justice Jose Melo as the new Comelec
chairman. While Melo and the three new commissioners are on board,
the election body is still one member short.
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