After Taguiwalo rejection, Robredo calls for more transparent CA

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday called for more transparency in Commission on Appointments deliberations, a day after the powerful body rejected Judy Taguiwalo as Social Welfare chief.

The reasons for rejecting a presidential nominee should be explained properly, the vice president said. Her late husband did not get the nod of the powerful CA during his two-year stint as secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

“Siguro mas gugustuhin sana natin na mas transparent din iyong process, mas alam natin kung bakit na-reject,” Robredo said.

Taguiwalo’s appointment was trashed by the CA on Wednesday after 13 of its members voted against her confirmation.

Third appointee rejected

Taguiwalo is the third appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte to be rejected by the CA.

Months ago, Perfecto Yasay’s appointment was thumbed down by the congressional body over questions on his citizenship.

This was followed by the rejection of the appointment of Gina Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The body said that Lopez did not have enough technical knowledge to become the DENR chief as she ordered the suspension of mining operations in different parts of the country.

Her confirmation was opposed by the mining industry, which called her decisions arbitrary. 

“Maraming mga nangyari in the past. Halimbawa, si Secretary Gina Lopez, na nalungkot tayo na na-reject iyong appointment. Si Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, na-reject iyong appointment. Iyong asawa ko, he was secretary for two years, pero never na na-confirm,” the vice president said.

CA part of democracy

Robredo said that particularly frustrating for some people is how the rejected appointees also fought for the same things that many wanted.

“Iyong alam mo, iyong pinaglalaban nitong tao ding ito, iyon iyong ipinaglalaban mo, and yet hindi siya pumasa sa proseso,” she said.

The rejection of presidential appointees is part of the process of democratic institutions which must be respected, she said.

She said: “Ito iyong mga malulungkot na dahilan, ito iyong malulungkot na resulta noong check-and-balance process na iyon. Puwede tayong magpahayag ng ating outrage. Puwede tayong magpahayag ng ating frustration kung bakit nangyayari ito. But at the end of the day, ito iyong proseso, eh.”

Expressing disagreement over the decision of government bodies such as the CA is important to ensure that their mandate is not abused, according to Robredo.

The CA’s secret voting became the subject of scrutiny after Lopez, who hails from one of the country’s wealthiest families, was rejected despite support from environmental and indigenous groups.

Critics said that many of those who voted against Lopez were politicians who have or whose families have stakes in the mining industry against which the former DENR chief took a strong stance.