Escudero: DILG chief's handling of hostage crisis may affect CA confirmation

Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo's handling of the August 23 hostage crisis, which has been criticized by some sectors, will probably make it harder for his Cabinet appointment to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA), Senator Francis Escudero said Thursday. "Maraming senador at kongresista akong nakausap na maraming katanungang nais ibato at ipukol kaugnay ng naganap na hostage crisis," CA member Escudero said during a weekly forum at the Senate on Thursday. (I have talked to many senators and congressmen who want to throw a lot of questions regarding the hostage crisis.) The senator said Robredo will have to explain why there was a need to divide the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), making it harder to handle the August 23 hostage tragedy. Robredo was supposedly in charge of matters concerning local goverment while DILG Undesecretary Rico Puno would be in charge of police matters and public safety issues, including critical incidents such as hostage-taking. "Bakit noong nagkaroon ng problema doon, tila nagkaroon ng turuan at sisihan kung kaninong jurisdiction ang partikular na sektor, ahensiya at opisina?" said Escudero. (Why was it that when this problem arose, there seemed to have been finger-pointing and blame-laying on who had jurisdiction over a specific sector, agency, and office?) He said Robredo would have to explain and answer this question when he presents his credentials before the CA. "All we are asking is for officials to be responsible within their respective departments and jurisdictions. Whoever will be found to be liable will be a totally different story, based on the outcome of the investigation," he said. Escudero noted, however, that he is not asking Robredo to step down from office. "Resignation is a voluntary act… if it is imposed you no longer call that resignation," he said. He likewise said that it is a good thing that appointees like Robredo are faced with challenges early into their term so that they'll realize the weight of their responsibility. The CA, composed of the Senate president as its head and 12 senators and 12 congressmen as its members, has the constitutional duty to confirm all presidential appointments, except those of the Ombudsman and Supreme Court Justices. The CA deliberates on nominations at the standing committee level and at the plenary session. Nominations or appointments may end up being confirmed, rejected or by-passed. Escudero said that the CA will probably convene next week.—Kimberly Jane T. Tan/JV, GMANews.TV