Palace regrets CA rejection of Ubial as Health secretary

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday said it regrets that the congressional Commission on Appointments rejected Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial's appointment.

A Commission on Appointments panel on Tuesday afternoon voted to reject the ad interim appointment of Ubial.

“We are deeply grateful for Secretary Ubial’s service to the Health department and for epitomizing the president’s malasakit (concern)  through her 'All for Health,  towards Health for All' Philippine Health Agenda,” the Palace said in a statement.

“We wish Secretary Ubial well in all her future endeavors,” it added.

Ubial was DOH assistant secretary for health regulations when President Rodrigo Duterte picked her to run the department in 2016.  Ubial is a graduate of the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Center Class of 1987 and began 27-year caree in public service as a rural health volunteer.  

At the CA plenary session, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel said “the motion to disapprove the ad interim appointed of Miss Paulyn Jean Ubial has been approved."

The decision on Ubial came after the CA committee on health conducted an executive session and recommended to reject the Health secretary's appointment.

Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II, CA Health panel chair, said the committee reviewed voluminous documents and heard the testimony of Ubial before it reached a “difficult decision."

He said there were 13 votes to “withhold consent to the ad interim of Ubial.” Voting at the CA is confidential.

Ubial’s appointment was bypassed by the commission twice. She faced four oppositions during her confirmation hearing.

The opposition were filed by Rep. Harry Roque (Kabayan party-list), lawyer Restituto Mendoza and from Potenciano Malvar, medical director of the Gen. Miguel M. Malvar Medical Foundation in Quezon City .

Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte) and Rep. Aniceto John Bertiz III (ACTS OFW party-list) also filed oppositions but withdrew them later on, according to CA secretary Hector Villacorta.

Fifth Cabinet secretary rejected by CA 

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III earlier grilled Ubial regarding allegations that “she recorded a significant number of foreign and domestic trips in her short period in office and that in some instances, she brought along members of her family.”

The Health secretary however defended herself saying all her travels were authorized and were part of her work as DOH chief.

Ubial is the fifth appointee disapproved by the commission. She joins former Foreign Affairs Secretary Pefecto Yasay, Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael “Paeng” Mariano.

RELATED: Ubial to CA: Judge me by track record | Ubial confident of getting CA nod