Lacson skips questioning DOT chief on appointment

Saying he supports the proposed 2012 budget of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he wouldn't question Tourism Sec. Ramon Jimenez's appointment during Wednesday's Senate budget hearing. At the finance committee hearing on the proposed DOT budget, Lacson said he merely asked last Tuesday Sec. Leila de Lima a question – being the country's "top lawyer" – regarding the appointment of Jimenez. "Now it has generated some controversies of sort in the sense that we don't know if we are in recess, we don't know if it's a nomination, we don't know if it's in acting capacity but that's not the meat of the discussion (in) today's hearing. So I will just proceed with my questions," he said. "I don't know the secretary more than his good reputation in the advertising industry, that's just about it," he added. Jimenez's appointment was announced last September 1. He replaced Alberto Lim, whose resignation took effect last August 31. Jimenez took oath on Monday. But Lacson, a member of the Commission on Appointments (CA), said that the President cannot issue ad interim appointments while Congress is still in session. Also, he said Jimenez cannot take an oath of office if he has not yet been confirmed by the CA. The Palace later on said that the appointment was legal because he was only appointed on acting capacity. — LBG, GMA News