CA defers confirmation of Energy chief anew

The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday deferred anew the confirmation of the appointment of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras amid some issues that his department inherited from his predecessor. Senator Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III, chairman of the CA energy committee, said they will conduct another hearing in January to ask Almendras about some issues during the term of former Energy Sec. Angelo Reyes. He said among these issues are the state of the Dingle Power Plant in Iloilo and the decision of the National Electrification Administration — traditionally chaired by the DOE head — on the corruption and bribery charges filed against a former Iloilo governor. "They found the bribe taker guilty but the bribe giver was not mentioned. Why wasn't he included in the decision? These are things that we cannot solve in one day," said Osmeña. In a separate interview, Almendras said he would be lying if he did not say that the CA was being unfair for grilling him over events that happened not during his term. "I wasn't even around when the decisions were made. I wasn't around when the contracts were written. I wasn't around when all of these things were happening. I cannot possibly speak for what occured," he said. With these developments, he likewise hinted that he's having second thoughts on holding onto his position. "I never wanted to be in this position so I cannot say I am keen to stay in this position," he said. Almendras noted, however, said that he is not asking President Benigno Aquino III to do anything. "He's got enough problems... (but) maybe the President wants to start looking for a new energy secretary, that's perfectly alright with me," he said. Meanwhile, the Energy secretary said they have already begun an investigation on the bribery issue even before it was brought up before the CA. However, he noted that investigations take time. "Everyone must realize that investigations are not easy to do, with procedures and processes that have to be followed and we'd like to proceed according to that," he said. The CA had also earlier deferred his confirmation after Quezon Rep. Danny Suarez inquired about the supposed non-payment of taxes by the Pagbilao Plant in Pagbilao, Quezon and the Palawan share on the Malampaya deep water gas-to-power project royalties. Earlier in the day, the commission's tourism committee recommended the confirmation of Tourism Sec. Alberto Lim. The CA is set to conduct a hearing on the appointment of Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala on Wednesday. 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 1987 Constitution is to confirm appointments made by the President of the Philippines: the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, or officers of the Amed Forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain, 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. - VVP, GMANews.TV