CA panel recommends Agriculture chief for confirmation

The Commission on Appointments (CA) agriculture and food committee on Wednesday recommended for confirmation the nomination of Proceso Alcala as the head of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The committee made the recommendation after at least two individuals filed formal oppositions against Alcala's appointment, specifically a businessman named Selwyn Lao and a balikbayan architect named Marlon Tiñana. Lao said Alcala allegedly violated the by-laws of the Planters Products Inc. (PPI), an attached agency of the DA, by appointing the PPI president even if Alcala does not have any authority to do so. However, Alcala said the appointment was made "in good faith" and that the mistake was rectified when he found out that only the PPI board had the power to appoint its president. "The whole board unanimously approved yung appointment nung chairman ng present board," he said in an interview after the hearing. Syndicated estafa Meanwhile, Tiñana filed an opposition because Alcala was allegedly guilty of syndicated estafa and selling housing lots in the Quezon province without a proper license to sell. During Wednesday's hearing, Tiñana said the CA would be "irresponsible" if it would recommend Alcala for confirmation. "How can you not question his integrity?" he said. Alcala, however, said the matter is already pending before a local court and that the CA should determine for themselves whether or not to trust Tiñana. "Kayo naman po ang maghusga, kita ninyo ang klase ng personalidad (You judge for yourself, you can see what kind of person he is. He is even questioning the integrity of this (commission)," he said. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile likewise scolded Tiñana for supposedly insinuating that the CA would confirm a supposedly dubious person like what the oppositor was describing. Wrong venue The CA, for its part, just told the two oppositors that they were placing their complaints in the wrong venue. Alcala noted, however, said he bore no ill feelings toward the oppositors. "It's part of this process, tayo po'y makipagdinig sa kanila at ipaliwanag po ng tama (I came here to be heard and confirm some things)," he said. "At the end of the day makikita po ng tao ang katotohanan (people will know the truth). I will be judged sa aking trabaho, sa klase ng accomplishment na magagawa po natin sa DA (based on my work and on my accomplishments while in the DA)," he added. Recommended for confirmation Earlier, the CA also recommended the confirmation of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro, and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson. The CA will take up the nominations recommended for confirmation during Wednesday's plenary session. 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