DOE, DENR chiefs fail to get CA nod

The Commission on Appointments (CA) has failed to confirm Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza and three other Cabinet members.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano II, a member of the House-CA contingent, told The STAR yesterday that with the adjournment of the session of Congress on Wednesday, these Cabinet members and other officials awaiting CA confirmation are now considered bypassed.

“This means that President Arroyo will have to issue them new appointments,” he said.

Also bypassed were Economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto, a former senator and Batangas congressman; Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, a former Davao congressman; and Labor Secretary Marianito Roque.

Of the five Cabinet officials, Reyes and Atienza have waited the longest for CA confirmation.

Reyes recently told reporters in jest that he might never win the approval of the appointments commission.

His most vocal critics among CA members are Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Jinggoy Estrada, in whose father’s administration Reyes served as chief of staff of the Armed Forces.

In early 2001, Reyes, as chief of staff, together with then Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado and the rest of the leadership of the Armed Forces, withdrew his support for then President Estrada and joined then Vice President Gloria Arroyo at Edsa.

Senator Estrada is also opposing the appointment of Mercado as ambassador to China.

As for Santiago, who once headed the Senate energy committee, she claims that Reyes is not qualified to be energy secretary.

Reyes has moved from one department to another. He has headed defense, local government and environment before being transferred to energy. He is reportedly planning to run for senator or mayor of Taguig in 2010.

Other officials whose appointments are still pending with the CA include Civil Service Commission Chairman Ricardo Saludo, a former Malacañang functionary; and Commissioners Leonardo Leonida and Lucenito Tagle of the Commission on Elections.

Also awaiting confirmation are 15 generals and several colonels in the Armed Forces, and scores of officers in the diplomatic service.

Albano said the appointments commission has not met since Congress resumed session last Nov. 10.

“We are awaiting word from the Senate if they will reorganize their contingent,” he said.

He said since Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. has been ousted as Senate president, he would no longer be CA presiding officer. He pointed out that under the Constitution, the Senate president is ex-officio presiding officer of the appointments body.

Pro-administration Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile has replaced Villar, who now belongs to a six-member minority that has refused to name its members in Senate committees.

Villar’s staunch ally Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano has resigned as chairman of the committee on accountability of public officials, better known as the Blue Ribbon committee, in the aftermath of Villar’s ouster.

Sen. Richard Gordon has replaced Cayetano.

Meanwhile, a Malacañang official said yesterday that a revamp of the present Cabinet should not be expected in 2009 though the President could still remove anyone anytime.

Secretary to the Cabinet Silvestre Bello III said that he has not heard of any impending revamp which was the subject of speculation because of previous performance reviews conducted by Mrs. Arroyo at the end of the year.

Bello said that the President has not asked any of the Cabinet members to submit courtesy resignations that would pave the way for a review of the current crop of officials.

Last year Mrs. Arroyo asked for the courtesy resignations of the heads of the government-owned and controlled corporations as a review was conducted on the status of officials of these agencies.

“It is clear that no one has asked for the resignation of the Cabinet members,” Bello said, adding he knew of no policy under the current administration about the requirement to submit courtesy resignations at yearend as was done during the Aquino administration.

Though relatively new to the Arroyo Cabinet, Bello has served in various capacities in previous administrations, including as justice secretary of former President Joseph Estrada. - with Marvin Sy