Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla (Mark Balmores/MANILA BULLETIN)

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla and 47 other presidential appointees are now awaiting confirmation from the Commission on Appointments (CA), Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel said.

Pimentel, an assistant minority leader of the CA, said the confirmation hearings for the appointees are set to begin as Congress resumes session on Monday, Nov. 4.

“We have 48 new appointees pending confirmation as of October 30,” Pimentel said in a statement.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque and Civil Service Commission Chairperson (CSC) Marilyn Barua-Yap are among those waiting for the CA’s approval, he said.

“There are 45 newly promoted military generals and career diplomats pending confirmation,” added Pimentel.

Under Article VII, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution, the CA’s consent is required for the rank promotions of senior military officers and foreign service officers, along with the new postings of ambassadors.

According to Pimentel, 15 generals are pending confirmation. This batch is headed by Maj. Gen. Jimmy Larida of the Philippine Marines, who has been promoted by President Marcos to the rank of lieutenant general, or three stars.

Meanwhile, the group of 30 Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) executives awaiting consent is headed by Emmanuel Fernandez, the new Philippine ambassador to Pakistan, with concurrent jurisdiction over Afghanistan.

Pimentel explained that while the hearings are yet to take place, the public should submit any information or complaints against the appointees pending confirmation to the CA secretariat.

The 25-member CA is empowered by the Constitution to vet the competence, fitness, and integrity of key presidential appointees, and to approve or reject them.

The CA, which is part of the legislative branch, is composed of 12 members each from the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the Senate President serving as ex-officio presiding officer.