CA bypasses 15 Duterte appointees

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Appointments (CA) has bypassed 15 members of President Duterte’s Cabinet.      

Bypassing takes place when Congress adjourns session or goes on recess without the CA approving the appointments. The legislation went on its two-week Halloween break last weekend.        

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, CA majority leader, said yesterday the President has to issue new appointments to his bypassed Cabinet members “if he wants to retain them.”        

“If not, he can replace them, since these officials are considered only on holdover status,” Albano said. “Their appointments have lapsed when Congress adjourned.” Without new appointment papers, the Cabinet men’s decisions and actions could be questioned, he said.

Those who were bypassed were Secretaries Vitaliano Aguirre ll of justice, Leonor Briones of education, Fortunato dela Peña of science and technology, Ramon Lopez of trade and industry, Regina Paz Lopez of natural resources and environment, Rafael Mariano of agrarian reform, Ernesto Pernia of economic planning, Emmanuel Piñol of agriculture, Rodolfo Salalima of information communications technology, Ismael Sueno of local government, Judy Taguiwalo of social welfare and development, Wanda Corazon Teo of tourism, Arthur Tugade of transportation, Paulyn Jean Obial of health and Perfecto Yasay Jr. of foreign affairs.

Seven Cabinet members have been confirmed: Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Benjamin Diokno of budget, Martin Andanar of communications, Carlos Dominguez III of finance, Silvestre Bello lll of labor, Alfonso Cusi of energy and Delfin Lorenzana of defense.

Also bypassed were several ambassadors, most of them political appointees, including journalist Teodoro Locsin Jr., who was named the country’s representative to the United Nations in New York.

The 23rd member of the Duterte Cabinet is Mark Villar of public works and highways.

Villar is a former Las Piñas congressman who has given up his seat in the House of Representatives.

But Malacañang has not submitted his appointment to the CA.

Earlier, Albano said he and his CA colleagues would extend courtesy to Villar and Bello by expediting their confirmation, since they were both former House members.