Appointments of 3 Cabinet execs to be tackled next week

The powerful Commission on Appointments will be tackling the nominations of three more Cabinet secretaries next week, including that of Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, whose confirmation has been deferred twice. In an advisory, the CA said it will conduct a hearing on the nomination of Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo on Tuesday, and of Defense chief Voltaire Gazmin and Almendras on Wednesday. Senator Sergio "Serge" Osmeña III, chairman of the CA energy committee, earlier said that Almendras' confirmation was put on hold because of certain issues which did not even happen during his administration. Osmeña said among these issues is 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. Aside from this, he said that Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez is also questioning Almendras about the supposed non-payment of real estate taxes amounting to around P6 billion by the Pagbilao Plant in Pagbilao, Quezon. According to the CA advisory, however, two more personalities — a certain Edna Gonzales Rana and an Atty. Victoriano Orocio — have also filed formal oppositions against his [Almendras'] appointment. The commission did not specify the reasons for the opposition. The CA had earlier confirmed the nominations of Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, and Public Works chief Rogelio Singson. 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. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMANews.TV