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CA OKs appointments of DOTC, DND chiefs


(Updated 2:15 p.m.) The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday approved the appointments of Ping De Jesus as the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Voltaire Gazmin as the secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND). The CA made the approval after the committees on transportation and communications and national defense recommended De Jesus and Gazmin for confirmation earlier in the day. CA transportation and communications chairman Palawan Rep. Antonio Alvarez, who sponsored De Jesus, said the secretary has what it takes to handle a department that has dominion over land, air, and sea. On the other hand, CA national defense committee chairman Capiz Rep. Antonio Del Rosario said Gazmin is bound to "rise above" the challenges confronting his department and the military. "I am confident he has what it takes to calm the conflicts within the department and the Armed Forces of the Philippines," he said during the CA's plenary session on Wednesday. Gazmin headed the Presidential Security Group (PSG) during the first half of the administration of late President Cory Aquino. As PSG commander from 1986 to 1989, he defended Cory's administration from several coup attempts by military renegades. He eventually became Army chief during the Joseph Estrada administration. De Jesus, meanwhile, was the chief operating officer of Meralco, the country's largest power distributor. He also served as public works secretary in the administrations of Cory Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos. Aside from De Jesus and Gazmin, the CA likewise approved the confirmation and promotion of AFP chief Gen. Ricardo David Jr., Lt. Gen. Gaudencio Pangilinan Jr., Vadm. Mario Catacutan, Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, Lt. Gen. Eduardo Oban, and Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban. The CA earlier confirmed the appointments of:
  • Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa;
  • Budget Sec. Florencio "Butch" Abad;
  • Education Sec. Armin Luistro;
  • Trade Sec. Gregory Domingo;
  • Energy Sec. Jose Rene Almendras;
  • Tourism Sec. Alberto Lim;
  • Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala;
  • Public Works Sec. Rogelio Singson;
  • Science and Technology Sec. Mario Montejo;
  • Labor Sec. Rosalinda Baldoz; and
  • Health Sec. Enrique Ona.
The CA is composed of the Senate president as its head and 12 senators and 12 House representatives as its members. The commission’s duty as mandated by the Constitution is to confirm all appointments made by the President of the Philippines, 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 be confirmed, rejected, or bypassed by the body. — LBG, GMA News
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