Senga hurdles CA but not Orly

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada blocked yesterday the confirmation of former defense secretary Orlando Mercado as ambassador to China.

The Commission on Appointments, however, confirmed the appointments of 66 military officers, 12 ambassadors, 12 other diplomats, and a member of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

The younger Estrada said his move was not personal and that he only wanted to review the credentials of Mercado and the other appointees of President Arroyo.

“Like before, when my father appointed him as Defense secretary, I think he did not perform as expected. He might do the same now as (ambassador) to China. We have to be careful about it. He is considered bypassed,” the senator said.

Mercado withdrew his support from former President Joseph Estrada to join a people’s revolution after the ex-leader was charged with corruption in 2001.

The younger Estrada said Mercado approached him and his father to seek support for his confirmation and his father gave in.

“You know the Erap trait, generous, forgiving. I explained I have to study his credentials,” the senator said.

He said he requested Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chairperson of the CA foreign relations committee, not to include Mercado in the deliberations yesterday.

Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, former chief of staff under the Estrada administration, was also bypassed.

He said he would invoke Section 20 of the CA Rules, which would allow a member of the body to object to a confirmation of an appointee and delay it single-handedly, if Mercado was not qualified for the job.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said Mrs. Arroyo could re-appoint her officials who can continue their functions.

In the case of Mercado, Lacson said he could already be posted to China.

Meanwhile, former Armed Forces chief of staff Generoso Senga managed to breeze through the CA as ambassador to Iran with concurrent jurisdiction over Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The 66 military officers confirmed were Jaime Buenaflor, and Isagani Cachuela to lieutenant general; Ferdinand Golez, vice admiral; Ricardo David Jr., Jerry Jalandoni, Johnny Corcha, Carlos Holganza, Romeo Lustestica, Alfredo Cayton Jr., Ralph Villanueva, Rolando Capacia, Hernanie Perez, Nathaniel Legaspi, Nestor Ochoa, major general; Josefina Solidum, Danilo Cortez, Ramon Punzalan, Roberto Estioko, rear admiral;

Manuelito Dahan, Dominador Aquino III, Renato Lorenzo Sanchez, Alejandro Camagay Jr. Antonio Bautista, Gaudencio Pangilinan Jr., Victor Felix, Rolito Abad, William Campos, Jose Vizcarra, Jessie Dellosa, Natalio Ecarma III, Fermin de Leon Jr., Ariel Zerrudo, Jesus Fajardo, brigadier general; Teddy Pan, Eugenio Velasco, Benhail Sevilla, Oliver Cuevas, commodore.

Others confirmed were Noel Felicia, Rolando Reyes, Willima Villafuerte, Jose Rivas, Navy captain; Agapito Carmelo Nagrampa Jr., Casiano Monilla, Demy Tejares, Jose Matias, Romeo Tanalgo, Aaron Fetalvero, Emmanuel Salamat, Alexander Balutan, Benjamin Asiddao, Nestor Saludo, Jose Capco III, Godfrey Julio, Germiniano Yuson Jr., Danilo Penafiel, Andre Tanyag, Edwin Bautista, Jocelyn Turla, Regina Canonizado, Leny Zulla, Dionisia Gabay, Vicenta Aquino, Vivencio Valencia Jr., Danilo Desuasido, Army colonel; and Marfenio Tan and Antonino Gascon Jr., reserve Navy captain.

The ambassadors approved by the Senate were Rora Navarro Tolentino to the French Republic with concurrent jurisdiction over Monaco and Portugal; Rey Carandang to Argentina, Republic of Paraguay, and Uruguay; Elizabeth Buensuceso to Norway, Denmark, Iceland;

Pedro Chan to Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan; Alejandrino Vicente to Libya, Algeria, Chad, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Niger, Tunisian Republic; Marilyn Alarilla to Laos; Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia to Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago; Gilberto Asuque to Lebanon; Ma. Theresa Lazaro to Switzerland; Domingo Lucenario Jr. to Kenya, Burundi, Comoros, Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda; and Regina Irene Sarmiento to the Czech Republic.

Also confirmed were Chief of Mission Victoria Bataclan; Career Ministers Miguel Bautista, Ma. Teresa Almojuela, Sulpicio Confiado, Imelda Panolong, Patricia Paez, Lilybeth Deapera;

Foreign Service Officer I Robespierre Bolivar, Donna Rodriguez, Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Stephanie Beatriz Valera and FSO 2 Ferdinand Philip Victoria.

Aurora Lagman was confirmed member of the JBC representing the private sector vice Raoul Victorino. She will be a member of the JBC until July 9, 2012.