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Lawmakers are pushing to amend the law covering the confirmation
process of government officials, a day after an irate Sen. Jamby
Madrigal blocked the confirmation of all those at the Commission on
Appointments on Wednesday.
Up for confirmation were 24 military officials,
including 17 generals, the Health secretary and an elections
commissioner.
In the Upper Chamber, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon called
for a review of a seldom-used rule—Section 20—that empowers
members of the commission to block the confirmation of an appointee
without question from other lawmakers or a debate.
“We can’t victimize those who have
sacrificed a lot for the country just because we have some questions
about some of them,” Biazon said.
The bypassed officials were just victims of
Madrigal, who still felt upset after Brig. Gen. Nestor Sadiarin got
promoted, despite her vow to block it, officials said. Madrigal’s
attention was elsewhere when Sadiarin’s name was called for
promotion. She stood up only after Senate President Manuel Villar
Jr. had banged the gavel, but by then, it was too late.
Villar supported Biazon. Even as the Senate
President acknowledged that Madrigal has the right to invoke Section
20, he said it is time to review it to prevent lawmakers from
abusing that power.
Sen. Richard Gordon, who also questioned
Madrigal’s initiative, said moves should be made to prevent the
wholesale use of Section 20 out of whim, pique or chicanery.
Villar said those at the Commission on
Appointments on Wednesday—Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd,
elections Commissioner Moslemen Macarambon and the 24 military
officers—will no longer need any reappointment and will no longer
undergo any new confirmation hearings. However, the commission
plenary will take up their case when Congress resumes session after
the Lenten break.
Six Cabinet members, however, have to get new ad
interim appointments from President Gloria Arroyo, since they are
considered bypassed with the adjournment of the commission’s
plenary session. They are Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr.,
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza, Justice
Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Interior and
Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Finance Secretary
Margarito Teves.
Lower Chamber
Muntinlupa City Rep. Ruffy Biazon (son of
Senator Biazon) said he will push for his Resolution 246, seeking to
amend Section 20 of the rules of the Commission on Appointments.
Rep. Biazon said this rule has become a shield
of the legislators in delaying the confirmation of officials.
Amendments to the Rules of the Commission on
Appointments must be made to stop any unreasonable deferment of
confirmation, similar to the “ballistic” act of Senator Madrigal
on Wednesday, he said.
“At present, Section 20 says a member of the
Commission on Appointments is given an authority to call for
deferment without any explanation,” Rep. Biazon said.
He said such provision is capricious and
whimsical for it will prejudice the rights of appointees, despite
their good service to the government.
“That Section 20 is unreasonable,” Rep.
Biazon added. “If one member dislikes you for any reason, he can
defer your nomination? It should not be the case.”
He also warned that Section 20 could be a tool
of corruption because some members could extort money from the
nominees, or else the confirmation will be deferred.
“It has been a subject of abuse, and we should
not allow that,” he said.
Rep. Biazon is suggesting under his Resolution
246 to have guidelines and reasonable grounds for the deferment of
the confirmation of a candidate and not through an all-encompassing
objection.
-- Efren L. Danao and Jomar Canlas
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