She replaced Heherson Alvarez, who was appointed presidential adviser for overseas workers.
Also confirmed were Karina David as chairwoman of the Civil Service Commission and Ambassadors Victoreano Lecaros (with posting in Vietnam), Romualdo Ong (Malaysia), Minerva Jean Falcon (Germany), and Victoria Bataclan (Sweden with jurisdiction over Denmark, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway).
It took almost two years for David to win confirmation due to opposition to her appointment by some CA members. Confirmation came on her 57th birthday.
The CA also approved the promotions of 16 military officers. They are Emmanuel Teodosio (to the rank of major general), Roberto Nuqui (to brigadier general), Dante Balao, Joel Ibanez, Emmanuel Bautista, Nestor Anonuevo, Rey Ardo, Benito Antonio de Leon, Ramon Miguel, Rodrigo Rosqueta, Gregorio Fajardo, and Daniel Galinato Jr. (to colonel in the Army);
Efren Tedor (to captain in the Navy) and Danilo Mendoza, Rodrigo Salazar and Bartolome Casabar (to colonel in the Air Force).
Five Cabinet members were deemed bypassed since they were not confirmed yesterday, the last plenary session day of the CA before Congress goes on its month-long Lenten break tomorrow.
They are Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin, Press Secretary Hernani Braganza, Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo, Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus, and Agrarian Reform Secretary Roberto Pagdanganan. — Jess Diaz