3 Cabinet execs, Locsin hurdle CA

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed yesterday three members of President Duterte’s Cabinet and journalist Teodoro Locsin Jr. as the Philippine permanent representative to the United Nations.

The CA bypassed other Cabinet officials, including Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol and Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial before adjourning for the Christmas break.

Confirmed by the bicameral body were Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, whose appointment was opposed by some non-government organizations.

Sueno was questioned on Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, particularly on the spate of extrajudicial killings.

He responded by reiterating the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)’s findings that there are no state-sponsored summary executions of suspected criminals.

Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara sponsored Sueno’s confirmation in the plenary.

Villar’s mother Sen. Cynthia Villar sat in the audience during the entire proceedings to give moral support to her son.

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto expressed support for Villar’s confirmation, saying he has the experience and character needed to lead the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“There’s one good thing that he has in him. A character trait so obvious but like people driven by noblesse oblige, he is so embarrassed to talk about it, and that is honesty,” Recto said, referring to Villar.

“He is more handsome than his father, brighter than his mom and more generous than the two combined,” he added in jest.

Tugade, who was previously bypassed by the CA due to the withdrawal of support by the Road Users Protection Advocates, was confirmed yesterday.

He has been under fire for failing to implement measures to address the traffic crisis as Congress is crafting a bill granting President Duterte emergency powers to address the same.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri pushed for Tugade’s confirmation, saying the official is sincere.

The CA deferred the appointment of Piñol, who was grilled for more than an hour on various issues hounding the Department of Agriculture (DA). 

CA member and Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Sato moved to defer Piñol’s appointment to next year after the DA chief failed to give clear plans for five agencies – the National Food Authority, National Irrigation Administration, Bureau of Fisheries, Philippine Coconut Authority and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority – that will be returned to the DA.

The CA earlier deferred action on Ubial after Rep. Harry Roque opposed her appointment.

Locsin breezed through the CA and was cited by San Juan Rep. Ronaldo Zamora for his experience and qualification.

Other Cabinet officials earlier confirmed by the CA are Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Rodolfo Salalima, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

The CA also confirmed yesterday officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs .

The CA confirmed the rank of Maj. Gen. Oscar Lactao of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe