By Mario Casayuran
The powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed on Wednesday the appointments of 22 senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including President Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio, as a colonel in the Philippine Army (reserve).
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN)
The CA also confirmed the appointments of 12 officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) led by two ambassadors – to Canada and to Thailand.
But Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, concurrent CA chairman, withdrew his referral to the CA the appointment of Joel Joseph Sacro Marciano Jr. as Director General, Philippine Space Agency (PSA) to avoid a protracted debate whether or not the PSA chief’s appointment requires CA confirmation.
Questioned by the CA national defense committee, Duterte-Carpio said it is an honor to be in the AFP reserve force and expressed hopes that she could help the Duterte administration by making her city a progressive one.
‘’I feel like a beauty queen, not a soldier,’’ she said with a smile after being asked by Senator Imee R. Marcos whether the President is afraid of her.
‘’It is just in his mind. I have always supported him, supported whatever his decision in personal and his career decisions and his politics,’’ she said.
‘’Admittedly, initially, I did not support his presidential bid but belatedly ( I supported his bid),’’ she added.
Duterte-Carpio also said she looks forward to the planned visit to Davao City by members of the CA when the public health emergency imposed by the President is lifted.
The CA also approved the confirmation of six Major Generals – Marcelino Randy L. Tibayan, William L. Ilagan, Arthur M. Cordura, Glenn E. Cruz, Greg T. Almerol and Ariel R. Caculitan – and Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo as Vice Admiral and Sean Anthony U. Villa as Rear Admiral.
Likewise confirmed were Millicent Cruz-Paredes, chief of mission, class II as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; and Rodolfo Dia Robles, 76, as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Canada.
Robles is a bar topnotcher and a graduate of San Beda College, the same school where President Duterte finished his law education.
The CA also deferred the appointment of a career DFA official, Mohd. Noordin Pendosina Noor Lomondot, as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Kuwait, because he would go on a mandatory retirement on April 5 after reaching the retirement age of 65.
Lomondot, current charge d’ affaires in the Philippine embassy in Kuwait, bowed to the wisdom of Senator Panfilo M. Lacson that his appointment as a career official would be deferred.
He was assured that the CA would confirm him as ambassador as a political appointee after his mandatory retirement. One of those who gave their assurance of an affirmative vote to Lomondot’s confirmation was Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Also confirmed were 13 Foreign Service Officers, Class II.
The CA also confirmed the appointments of two commodores, five brigadier generals and three colonels, including Sara Z. Duterfe-Carpio.