The foreign relations committee of the Commission on Appointments (CA) deferred today, March 8, the confirmation hearings of four envoys at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Two of the four are Bienvenido Tejano who is nominated as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Kiribati and Solomon Islands; and Manuel Antonio Javier Teehankee, permanent ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
The two others are Rodillo Rivera as career minister, and Joyce Marison Camacho Quivooij, Foreign Service Officer, Class I.
The decision to defer the hearing came after senators and congressmen comprising the CA foreign relations committee chaired by Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Ejercito Estrada met Tejano and two oppositors in closed doors.
Senator Cynthia A. Villar had strongly suggested that the committee members met Tejano in closed doors because of the sensitivity of the allegations against Tejano.
During the committee hearing two weeks ago, Senator Risa Hontiveros tried to elicit answers from Tejano on previous cases lodged against him, citing reports alleging that he "invoked diplomatic immunity to escape charges in one of those cases."
Tejano claimed this was not true.
He said that a Filipina businesswoman, whom he refused to help as it would endanger her welfare, accused him of sexual assault.
Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Johnny Pimentel had noted that the case was dismissed because of technicality.
"Since it is very clear that Ambassador Tejano is holding several information for us, and I think it would be embarrassing for him to divulge this information in public… therefore, I move that we defer the appointment of Mr. Tejano until such time the issues have been cleared," Pimentel said.
In the case of Teehankee, Estrada decided to reset the committee hearing after the ambassador and Senator Risa Hontiveros were locked on several trade issues.
The committee accepted Hontiveros’ request that it should call former Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez to its next hearing to clear up trade issues that the lady senator wanted clarified.
During the Estrada committee hearing, Teehankee emphasized that the country should increased its industrialization efforts to enhance its exports.
The foreign affairs committee of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) deferred Wednesday, Feb. 22, deliberations on the nomination of an envoy to Papua New Guinea.
Senator Jinggoy Ejericto Estrada, committee chairman, deferred the nomination of Bienvenido Tejano until the sexual charges lodged against him are cleared up.
Tejano is nominated as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Kiribati and Solomon Islands.
“Since it is very clear that Ambassador Tejano is holding several information for us, and I think it would be embarrassing for him to divulge this information in public… therefore, I move that we defer the appointment of Mr. Tejano until such time the issues have been cleared,” Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Johnny Pimentel said.
When no one objected, Estrada deferred committee deliberation on Tejano’s nomination.
Senator Risa Hontiveros tried to elicit answers from Tejano on previous cases lodged against him, citing reports alleging that he “invoked diplomatic immunity to escape charges in one of those cases.”
Tejano claimed this was not true.
He said that a Filipina businesswoman, whom he refused to help as it would endanger her welfare, accused him of sexual assault.
Pimentel rebutted Tejano’s claim by saying that it was Tejano’s former Filipino domestic helper, not a businesswoman.
He noted that the case was dismissed because of technicality.
“The case was dismissed on a technicality because of the prescription period. The court alleged na matagal na masyado (that it is long overdue). But, the dismissal does not prove your innocence,” he pointed out.
ad interim:
rodillo rivera, ceer minister
joyce marison camacho Quivooij