Camacho confirmation hangs

The confirmation of the appointment of Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho now hangs in the balance after he admitted yesterday responsibility for the production of placards and streamers derogatory to a member of the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta, a member of the bicameral body, was referred to in many of the placards as "Tessie, pokpok," an issue raised by Sen. Blas Ople, himself the object of a scathing letter written by Camacho’s mother.

"The use of derogatory words against an elected senator is indicative of extreme emotional immaturity," Ople said, adding that this issue might make Camacho the first member of the Arroyo Cabinet to be rejected by the CA.

At Malacañang, President Arroyo’s spokesman said she would "hang tough" with her chosen Cabinet members amid a reported "orchestrated black propaganda" campaign to derail their confirmation.

On the reported "hit list" were Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza.

"It (smear campaign) always happens to any appointees of the President. The President will just have to hang tough that these are her choices," Presidential Spokesman Rigoberto Tiglao said.

Ople stressed that the US-educated Camacho might be technically qualified for the post of finance secretary, but the CA would also be looking beyond this.

"We also have to look into his emotional maturity. Indications are that he is not emotionally mature," he added.

During the hearing and in answer to the question of Ople, Camacho admitted that his family produced numerous placards derogatory to Oreta during the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada. The placards were used in EDSA rallies demanding the ouster of Estrada after the Senate voted against the opening of the controversial envelope of "Jose Velarde."

Camacho said that those placards contained the strong political sentiments of his family. He also told the CA that as head of the family, he accepts full responsibility for the production of those placards.

After the hearing, however, and after CA Majority Leader Gerardo Espina moved for the deferment of Camacho’s confirmation, Camacho denied admitting responsibility for the derogatory placards.

"He is lying! The records will show he admitted it," Oreta said.

She said she was not originally inclined to raise that issue, although she admitted that she wanted to question Camacho’s emotional stability.

Oreta said that she became aware of the placards because she and Camacho were neighbors at Urdaneta Village in Makati City. She recalled that her 28-year-old son was livid with rage when he saw the placards, but her husband Len restrained him.

Ople also recalled that the mother of Camacho wrote him a scathing letter over his statements against Camacho who was then energy secretary.

"She was very protective of her son but in the process, she gave derisive descriptions of politicians like me. She did not know that the CA is completely composed of politicians," Ople said.

The CA also deferred yesterday the confirmation of the less controversial Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit.

Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar said they will take this up next week as the House contingent was rushing back to the chamber for the budget floor deliberations. – Efren Danao, Marichu Villanueva