DOJ chief fails to hurdle CA

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez was not able to secure his much-needed confirmation yesterday after lawmakers comprising the Commission on Appointments (CA) suspended its hearing.

Gonzalez now faces the prospect of having his appointment bypassed and joins 11 other Cabinet members whose appointments will not be confirmed when Congress adjourns Friday for the election period.

CA secretary Gemma Aspiras said other Cabinet officials whose appointments might be bypassed include Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, newly appointed Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) chief Romulo Neri, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap and Trade Secretary Peter Favila.

Of the 12 presidential appointees, Ebdane, Andaya, Puno and Favila have not provided CA their complete resume and other documents.

All are ad interim appointees, which means they were appointed while Congress was in recess.

During the hearing on Gonzalez’s appointment, Manila Assistant City Prosecutor Ferrer Co and lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan were able to derail the confirmation after the CA subcommittee on Justice and Judicial and Bar Council chaired by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada announced shortly after the lunch break that hearings would be suspended.

Gonzalez earlier pushed for the panel to allow him to defend himself over the accusations hurled by Alentajan on his confirmation.

"Should I be given an opportunity to defend myself over this," Gonzalez said while holding an inch-thick folder containing the documents outlining the issues against him.

Estrada told Gonzalez that he will be given ample time to answer the allegations in the next hearing, tentatively set Thursday.

On the same day, the Senate will have a closed-door caucus with the plenary session scheduled for today to act on CA confirmations.