(Update 2 - 10:50 p.m.) The bicameral Commission on Appointments on Wednesday confirmed the appointments of four Cabinet secretaries, but excluded that of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras. Those whose appointments were confirmed during Wednesday's plenary session were:
- Secretary Armin Luistro, Department of Education;
- Secretary Alberto Lim, Department of Tourism;
- Secretary Proceso Alcala, Department of Agriculture; and
- Secretary Rogelio Singson, Department of Public Works and Highways
Sen. Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III, chairman of the CA energy committee, said they would conduct another hearing in January to ask Almendras regarding some unresolved issues left by former Energy chief Angelo Reyes. Osmeña said that 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 Energy secretary — on the corruption and bribery charges filed against a former Iloilo governor.
Best Christmas gift In an interview with reporters, Lim called the confirmation their “best Christmas gift." “We were given a very nice Christmas gift by the Commission. We are very grateful," he said. The CA tourism committee had earlier
deferred Lim's confirmation after Travel Cooperative of the Philippines chairman Robert Lim Joseph expressed his formal opposition to Lim’s nomination. Joseph said Lim was an "incompetent" official for coming out with the much maligned “Pilipinas Kay Ganda (Philippines So Beautiful)" campaign. He also accused Lim of prioritizing foreign interests for advocating open-skies policy.
Time to work On the other hand, Alcala and Singson said they would finally be able to focus on their work now that they have been confirmed. “
Ngayon po na wala na po kami isyu kundi panay trabaho. Wag po kayo mag-alala, magde-deliver po kami (Now that there are no more issues against us, we can now work. Don't worry, we will deliver)," said Alcala. Singson, for his part, said: “We’re committed to do our job and we will do it with efficiency, integrity, and more love of god and love of country." Singson
passed the CA committee level without any obstruction while Alcala’s nomination was met with
opposition from businessman Selwyn Lao and
balikbayan architect Marlon Tiñana. Lao said Alcala allegedly violated the by-laws of the Planters Products Inc. (PPI), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, by appointing the PPI president even if Alcala does not have any authority to do so. On the other hand, 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.
Thank you, oppositors Luistro, for his part, thanked their oppositors, saying they are instrumental in improving their respective departments. “
Sa ganyang paraan, ang ating demokrasya ay nagiging matatag at nabubuo nang mas maganda ang ating mga programa kapag tayo’y nakikinig sa feedback (Democracy becomes stronger if we listen to feedbacks)," he said. The CA had earlier deferred Luistro’s confirmation after Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago
objected to his confirmation allegedly due to “conflicting interests, gross ignorance of the law, and political deafness." However, Santiago later on
withdrew her objection as “a gesture of courtesy to the incumbent administration." Luistro said he and the three other confirmed department secretaries will be praying that other Cabinet officials will also be confirmed immediately. The CA has so far heard the nominations of five Cabinet secretaries. However, only Energy Secretary Almendras' confirmation was
deferred.
Aquino's confidence in Almendras unshaken In Malacañang, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the deferment of Almendras' confirmation does not shake President Aquino's confidence in him. "It does not in any way affect the confidence of the President in Sec. Almendras," Valte said in an interview with reporters on Wednesday. "We understand that the members of the [CA] have several concerns and they are perfectly entitled to raise these concerns as long as they see fit and as long as they feel that they have more to get from the appointee," she said. "We are confident that Sec. Almendras will be able again to answer all the concerns that are raised by the Commission on Appointments and that he will eventually get his confirmation from the commission," Valte added.
The CA's role The CA is composed of the Senate president as its head, and 12 senators and 12 congressmen as its members. The 1987 Constitution mandates the commission to confirm appointments made by the President, covering the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and officers of the Armed 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.
— With Jam L. Sisante, KBK/RSJ/JV, GMANews.TV> 
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