Gaa, 30 others confirmed

A total of 31 foreign service officers led by Ambassador to the US Willy Gaa were confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday.

Also confirmed by the CA were the appointments of Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Antonio Villamor, former press secretary Noel Cabrera to Myanmar, Antonio Lagdameo to Mexico, and Maria Rosario Janolo to Kenya and as permanent representative to the United Nations Environmental Program and Habitat.

In addition to the five ambassadors, the CA confirmed the ad interim appointments of 26 foreign service officers with ranks ranging from chiefs of mission to foreign service officer Class 1.

Former Guimaras governor Emily Lopez, who was appointed by President Arroyo as ambassador to Italy last year, was not present during yesterday’s plenary session of the CA after being bypassed on previous occasions.

CA committee on foreign affairs chairwoman Sen. Miriam Defensor- Santiago said the nomination of Lopez has been held in abeyance because of the reported extension of the term of Philippe Lhuillier as ambassador to Italy.

"There is no vacancy so there can be no nomination for the post in Rome," Santiago explained.

Lhuillier was appointed as ambassador to Argentina and his posting was confirmed by the CA last March.

Reports from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), however, indicate Lhuillier has not vacated his post in Italy.

According to Santiago, the vacancy will be on the posting for Argentina since Lhuillier was granted an extension of his term in Italy.

Santiago said the nomination of former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. as the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations would be taken up next by the CA’s committee on foreign affairs.

She said Davide is expected to face tough grilling from Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

"The committee has the power to reject the oppositions filed but Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has the power to veto the confirmation under Section 20 of the rules of the Commission on Appointments," Santiago said.

During yesterday’s plenary session, former law professor Amado Dimayuga was also confirmed as a member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

Dimayuga, former dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Santo Tomas, will represent the academe in the JBC.

Dimayuga has been a member of the JBC since 1997 and according to Estrada, "spearheaded the adoption of public hearings, the screening of applicants for judicial positions and principally advocated the conduct of background investigations on them, both of which have now become commendable practices and traditions of transparency."