Before Congress adjourns sine die on June 3, a committee of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) will determine the fitness of President Duterte’s nominees to hold key government positions.
There are sworn opposition to the appointments of Saidamen Pangarungan as chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) until February 2, 2029 vice Sheriff Abas and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri as Comelec commissioner until February 2, 2029 vice Rowena Amelia Guazon.
Those who opposed Pangarungan’s confirmation as Comelec chief were Mauyag Papandayan Jr. and Khaledyassin Papandayan; Fr. Enrico Montano; and layer Dino de Leon.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio opposed Neri’s confirmation.
There were no sworn opposition to the appointments of Rizalina Novel Justol as COA chairman vice Michael Aguinaldo until February 2, 2029; Karlo Alexei Bendigo Nograles, as CSC chairman vice Alicia dela Rosa-Bala until February 2, 2029; and George Erwin Garcia, as Comelec commissioner until February 2, 2020 vice Antonio Kho.
All will appear before the CA constitutional commissions and offices chaired by Senator Cynthia Villar at 8 a.m. on Monday, May 30.
The CA national defense and security chaired by Representative Luis Ferrer IV was expected to undertake a committee hearing on the appointments of 60 General/Flag and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) this coming week. The committee hearing last week was cancelled.
Justol had just delivered her statement on why her appointment should be confirmed until there was a motion was presented to reschedule the hearing because lawmakers have to witness the canvassing of the votes cast and proclaim the winners of the May 9, 2022 presidential and vice presidential elections.
The motion was presented by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senator Panfilo Lacson and Representative Ronaldo Zamora, CA vice chairman.
The CA is scheduled to hold a plenary session on June 1 to confirm or bypass the appointments of the nominees before it adjourns.
The Senate and the House of Representatives are scheduled to adjourn sine die on June 3.