Finally, Alvarez gets CA nod

If at first you don’t succeed...

After having been bypassed seven times by the bicameral Commission on Appointments, Secretary Heherson Alvarez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) finally made it through the CA gauntlet.

The CA confirmed yesterday, minus the expected fireworks, the ad interim appointment of Alvarez, along with that of Armed Forces chief Gen. Roy Cimatu who is due to retire early next month.

Another protracted and emotional debate was averted after Palawan Rep. Vicen-te Sandoval, main critic of Alvarez, and Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, principal critic of Cimatu, were persuaded by their colleagues not to invoke Section 20 of the CA rules.

The provision allows any member of the commission to move for the deferment of plenary consideration of an appointment without any debate.

However, Sandoval and Osmeña put on record their reservations on the confirmations of Alvarez and Cimatu.

Heaving a sigh of relief after his confirmation, Alvarez expressed gratitude to President Arroyo "whose steadfast confidence and support made this moment possible."

The President kept re- appointing Alvarez each time the CA bypassed his nomination, and the CA members took it as an indication that he enjoyed Mrs. Arroyo’s full trust and confidence.

Alvarez described his protracted confirmation hearings as "a humbling experience," but added that it enabled him to clarify issues raised against him and assure the people that they could expect the highest qualities from presidential appointees.

"I must admit the confirmation process has been trying for me and my family," Alvarez told reporters. "We have been made to bear a lot of unjust criticisms and to suffer slander and abuse with as much grace as we can muster."

He also viewed his confirmation as a vindication of his worthiness and the correctness of his programs.

His wife, Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, who was not spared of the verbal attacks, appeared teary-eyed as Senate President Franklin Drilon declared her husband’s confirmation.

On the other hand, Cimatu’s confirmation appeared to hang in the balance after Osmeña declared he would invoke Section 20 against the general.

Osmeña cited reactions of certain military officers to a report of the Senate committee on national defense recommending court-martial for three officers for alleged collusion with Abu Sayyaf bandits, that allowed the outlaws to break though a military siege in Lamitan, Basilan on June 2 last year.

Osmeña also slammed a military spokesman for declaring that the three officers have been cleared of the charges.

Those recommended for court-martial were Maj. Gen. Romeo Dominguez, currently commander of Army’s 8th Infantry Division (ID) based in Catbalogan, Samar; Col. Jovenal Narcise, chief of the 702nd Infantry Brigade (IB) based in Nueva Ecija; and Maj. Eliseo Campued, executive officer of the 18th Infantry Battalion.

The three officers acted as field commanders during the Lamitan siege.

Cimatu said as far as he is concerned, there has been no such clearance. He said he favors allowing the military judicial process to take its due course.

For his part, Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr., chairman of the Senate committee on national defense, said he would not mind at all if Mrs. Arroyo extends Cimatu’s service for three more years.

Picop workers cry foul over Alvarez confirmation

Leaders of Picop’s labor union deplored alleged shabby treatment they received during yesterday’s CA hearing.

Union president Lito Soriano said he was prevented from voicing out his objections "due to the intense railroading of Senator Magsaysay and Congressmen (Rodolfo) Albano and (Narciso) Monfort."

"That is no way to treat a duly invited guest at the hearing. It is because we’re only lowly folks from the mountains that we be accorded such low regard from our lawmakers?" the union AKHPRI-AWATU said in a statement.

Soriano also hinted that many of them have lost their jobs because of an alleged "squeeze play" used by Alvarez on their company.

Soriano hurled the challenge as he claimed that during the CA hearings, Alvarez evaded allegations that he asked for "something substantial" in exchange for the firm’s Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA).

The union leader also alleged that Alvarez put Picop out of business after he delayed for four months approval of the company’s seven-year comprehensive development and management plan without any valid reason.

"The delay caused disruption to the company’s production line and temporary layoff of 2,000 of my co-workers," Soriano said, adding that Picop lost millions "because of Alvarez’s squeeze play."

Soriano also charged that Alvarez refused to approve the automatic conversion of Picop’s timber license agreement into an IFMA as required by law.

He said the secretary’s actions opened the floodgates for the entry of illegal loggers and settlers into Picop’s concession area in the Caraga region, resulting in the destruction of about 180 hectares of falcata and mangium trees planted by the company.

In another development, small-scale miners in Abra and Kalinga rallied behind Alvarez.

"We, the indigenous people of Abra (Tingguians) and Banao tribe of Balbalan town, Kalinga have complete trust and faith in Alvarez, having known of his past record of public service in his official and private capacity," the group said in a position paper. — With Artemio Dumlao, Katherine Adraneda