‘Senate, House can’t probe CA’

MANILA, Philippines - Neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives has jurisdiction to investigate the Commission on Appointments since it is an independent constitutional body, CA members said yesterday.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Panfilo Lacson were commenting on reports that some House members are calling for an investigation of CA members after President Duterte commented that “lobby money talks” when the bicameral body rejected the appointment of former environment secretary Gina Lopez last week.

There were also calls from some senators to review CA rules, particularly that on secret balloting.

“Not by the House, not by the Senate, but by the CA because we’ll have a problem of jurisdiction,” Lacson told reporters when asked about the call of some House members, particularly Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, for an investigation.

He suggested that Alejano first consult his lawyers before filing his resolution.

Sotto stressed senators and congressmen cannot interfere in the drafting of CA rules.

The 25-member CA is a constitutional body under the 1987 Constitution. It is an independent body separate and distinct from the legislature, although its membership is confined to members of Congress.

Lacson on Sunday lamented that some of his colleagues in the CA disclosed their votes in favor of Lopez.

He said if the CA members who voted for Lopez were really rooting for her, they should have formally objected to her rejection.