Reyes, Villanueva confirmed by CA

The bicameral Commission on Appointments finally confirmed yesterday the ad interim appointment of Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes, National Economic and Development Authority Director General Dante Canlas and Gen. Diomedio Villanueva, Armed Forces chief of staff.

While Canlas and Villanueva had a relatively easy time hurdling the confirmation hearing, Reyes had to go through a wringer before avoiding getting bypassed for the third time by the CA. Canlas’ confirmation was endorsed last Wednesday. Villanueva would have been endorsed on the same day but he declined to get confirmed ahead of Reyes.

Reyes and Villanueva were confirmed in the CA plenary session a few minutes after the CA committee on defense headed by Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Romualdo endorsed their confirmation after two-and-a-half hours of hearing.

The staff of Reyes had spent a virtual sleepless night preparing all documents demanded by opposition Sen. Sergio Osmeña III. The submission of the documents was vital for Reyes’ confirmation. Osmeña was given up to six hours to question Reyes.

"I slept through the night," commented Reyes on how he prepared for yesterday’s confirmation hearing.

Osmeña received the document early yesterday morning and spent several hours studying them before asking questions from 1 p.m. to about 3:30 p.m. Senators Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Robert Barbers and Reps. Jurdin Romualdo of Camiguin, Rafael Nantes of Quezon and Narciso Monfort of Iloilo all said that Osmeña asked incisive questions and Reyes came out with clear answers.

"It was evident that Reyes came fully prepared. He answered without hesitation and appeared to have all facts in the palm of his hand," Barbers said.

After two-and-a-half-hours, or even before the six hours allotted to Osmeña to ask questions, Barbers reiterated his motion last Wednesday that the defense committee end the confirmation hearing on Reyes. Only Osmeña voted against Barbers’ motion, paving the way for the near-unanimous endorsement of Reyes’ confirmation by the CA plenary.

Before the start of the hearing, Reyes moved over to Osmeña’s seat. Osmeña stood up and shook hands with Reyes.

"I am probably one politician who could separate personal feelings from official work," Osmeña said.

He, however, stressed that he was not fully satisfied with Reyes’ answers, adding that he might file a resolution seeking Senate investigation into some of the contracts entered into by Reyes.

Magsaysay expressed relief over the confirmation of Reyes, saying this brings added stability to the country, considering that Reyes is occupying a very sensitive position. Earlier, he warned against having a mere acting head of the defense department while the Philippines is facing threats to its security.

The confirmation of Reyes and Canlas brings to 11 the number of Cabinet members confirmed by the CA. Not yet confirmed and deemed bypassed were Justice Secretary Hernando Perez, Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez, Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez III, Trade and Industry Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, Press Secretary Noel Cabrera, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, Commission on Audit Chairman Guillermo Carague, and Commission on Elections Chairman Alfredo Benipayo.

President Arroyo must reappoint them before the CA can consider anew their nomination for confirmation. The President has already indicated that she will reappoint all Cabinet members bypassed by the CA.