Miriam to 'observe compassion' in dealing with Cabinet appointees

Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago seems to be having second thoughts on whether to block the confirmation of certain Cabinet appointees, which she had earlier threatened to do. In a statement released Friday, Santiago said she will heed the advice of the Dalai Lama to "observe compassion" in deciding whether to invoke her "one-person veto" during the confirmation proceedings of certain cabinet members. The feisty senator, who is a member of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA), explained that she learned the "virtue of compassion" in Tibetan Buddhism after meeting the Dalai Lama last year in Rome, Italy and earlier this November in New Delhi, India. Santiago had earlier objected to the confirmation of Education Secretary Armin Luistro because of "conflicting interests, gross ignorance of the law, and political deafness." (See: Miriam opposes CA confirmation of DepEd's Luistro) She even threatened to invoke chapter IV, section 20 of the commission’s rules in blocking Luistro's confirmation if he fails to satisfactorily answer the allegations made against him. Section 20 of the CA rules — the power of “one-person veto" — states that any member of the commission may move to suspend any nomination or appointment recommended by a standing committee. “The motion is non-debatable. There is no voting. The CA chair has to automatically grant the motion," said Santiago. Aside from Luistro, she also threatened to massacre more "lightweight" Cabinet members when they face the CA. (See: Miriam to ‘massacre’ Cabinet execs during CA hearings) "I'm going to teach them a lesson in humility. They have to pass the eye of a needle before I restrain myself from invoking section 20," she said in an earlier interview. She noted on Friday, however, that she is "bound" by the Buddhist virtues of compassion, peace, and non-violence, from invoking the one-person veto. The CA is composed of the Senate president as its head and 12 senators and 12 congressmen as its members. The commission’s duty as mandated by the Constitution is to confirm all appointments made by the President of the Philippines, except those of the Ombudsman and Supreme Court Justices. The CA discusses and deliberates on nominations at the standing committee level and at the plenary session. Nominations or appointments may end up being confirmed, rejected or bypassed.—Kimberly Jane T. Tan/JV, GMANews.TV