Miriam withdraws objection to DOH chief's confirmation

The Commission on Appointments (CA) health committee on Wednesday finally recommended for confirmation the nomination of Health Secretary Enrique Ona after Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago formally withdrew her objection to his appointment. Santiago had earlier blocked Ona's appointment, saying she was "bothered" by his position on the Health Department's policy on kidney transplants. On Wednesday, however, Ona said he had written to Santiago to say that he has no plans of revising their existing administrative orders prohibiting kidney transplants between non-related donors. "With this, I hope I have resolved any lingering doubts," he said during the hearing. During the same hearing, Santiago said that she confirms "with appreciation" receiving the letter of Ona. "Wala na ako objection kay Dr. Ona dahil gumawa na talaga siya ng kasulatan sabi niya hindi [niya] papalitan ang mga administrative circular na pinairal dati ng nauna sa kanya na Health secretary," Santiago told reporters after the CA hearing. (I have no more objection to Ona's appointment because he had written to me saying he won't change the administrative circulars issued by the previous Health secretary.) Kidney transplants Under the current policy of the DOH, in compliance with the administrative orders of former Health Secretaries Drs. Francisco Duque III and Esperanza Cabral, patients are not allowed to receive a kidney from another person unless they are related, close acquaintances, or dead. Before the 2008 ban, there had been a 10-percent limit on foreigners receiving Filipino kidneys. But many in the medical community, including Ona, admitted that the limit was grossly violated and local patients were left with no way to contest with foreign patients also in need of kidney transplants. Ona was also director of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) from 1998 to 2010. 'Observe compassion' Santiago had also earlier threatened to invoke Section 20 of the CA rules in blocking the confirmation of Education Sec. Armin Luistro because of "conflicting interests, gross ignorance of the law, and political deafness." She also threatened to massacre more "lightweight" Cabinet members when they face the CA. Later on, however, Santiago withdrew her objection and said that 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. Montejo, Baldoz Earlier in the day, two CA panels recommended for confirmation Science and Technology Sec. Mario Montejo and Labor Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz. The CA will tackle the nominations of Montejo, Baldoz, and Ona in plenary session on Wednesday afternoon. The CA had earlier confirmed the appointments of Luistro, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Budget Sec. Florencio "Butch" Abad, Trade Sec. Gregory Domingo, Energy Sec. Jose Rene Almendras, Tourism Sec. Alberto Lim, Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala, and Public Works Sec. Rogelio Singson. On the other hand, the confirmation of Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin and Agrarian Reform Sec. Virgilio delos Reyes were earlier deferred pending questions regarding their appointment. — RSJ, GMA News