CA panel defers recommendation of DOF chief's confirmation

A Commission on Appointments (CA) panel on Wednesday deferred its recommendation for Cesar Purisima's confirmation as the secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF). The CA finance committee made the deferment after Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez opposed the confirmation because Purisima's policy direction is supposedly "detrimental" to the fiscal situation of the country. He said Purisima, as chairman of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) Corporation, is against the payment of the "proper" real property taxes by the corporation Mirant for the coal-fired thermal power plant it operated in Pagbilao in Quezon province. "The public health and environmental costs of the operation of the Pagbilao Power Plant to the province of Quezon and the municipality of Pagbilao is incalculable. It is only fair and just that both be compensated accordingly," Suarez said. Purisima, however, said the matter involves "very difficult" policy issues and choices, adding that whatever additional cost that will be passed on to PSALM will increase its debt, which will eventually be passed on to power costs. Purisima said that the government is willing to deal with the problems of Pagbilao through state programs. "We're trying to find some middle ground. We are in negotiations with the governor of Quezon and the mayor of Pagbilao," he said. Suarez said they are willing to settle, as long as the agreement will be in "black and white." "We do not want to fight city hall," he said during the CA panel hearing. Aside from Suarez, Danilo Lihaylihay, a private citizen, opposed Purisima's confirmation because the secretary supposedly failed to pay him over P42 billion in informant fees. Lihaylihay, who introduced himself as the president of Philippine Association of Revenue Informers, Inc., said he deserves to be paid for giving information on the tax evasion cases involving Fortune Tobacco Corp. and the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. Purisima, however, said that the courts have already ruled that Fortune Tobacco had no tax liability. He likewise said that Lihaylihay's claim of being entitled to billions in informant fees had no basis. Lihaylihay, who claims to be an anti-graft advocate, had filed a plunder complaint against former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, former Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, former Finance Privatization Council head John Sevilla, and Megaworld Corporation chair Andrew Tan for the supposed anomaly in the sale of the old Iloilo airport property in 2007. Other Cabinet members The CA had 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; - Health Sec. Enrique Ona; - Transportation Sec. Ping De Jesus; and - Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin.

At least eight more Cabinet members are waiting for their confirmation by the CA, including Agrarian Reform Sec. Virgilio delos Reyes, whose confirmation was earlier deferred due to pending questions regarding his appointment. On the other hand, the hearing on the appointment of Social Welfare Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman was moved to March 16. The CA will also resume its hearing on Purisima's appointment on the same date. The CA is composed of the Senate president as its head and 12 senators and 12 representatives from the House as its members. The commission’s duty as mandated by the Constitution is to process 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 end up being confirmed, rejected, or bypassed. — LBG/KBK, GMA News