Palace withdraws Mercado's nomination

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has withdrawn from the Commission on Appointments (CA) its nomination of former senator Orlando Mercado as ambassador to Beijing, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita confirmed to The STAR yesterday.

Ermita said the withdrawal of the nomination was “upon the request” of Mercado himself.

Ermita did not reveal the reason for Mercado’s decision, except that the former senator himself asked him to relay this to President Arroyo.

Mercado earlier expressed his disappointment over the delay of his confirmation at the CA, which is composed of his former colleagues in Congress.

During his two consecutive terms as senator, Mercado once served as CA majority leader, thus he expected the usual courtesy of a speedy confirmation.

However, the CA has bypassed him several times, along with other Cabinet officials and appointees of Mrs. Arroyo.

Mercado’s nomination was initially blocked by opposition Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, son of deposed President Joseph Estrada.

Mercado served as defense secretary during the administration of Estrada from June 1998 until the former president was ousted from office in January 2001.

Senator Estrada said the CA notified him yesterday about the Palace’s withdrawal of Mercado’s nomination when he manifested his desire to quiz Mercado again during his scheduled confirmation hearing tomorrow.

“So the CA told me (Mercado’s confirmation) was no longer in the schedule,” Estrada said.

The younger Estrada has reportedly not forgiven Mercado for withdrawing his support for his father, along with the top brass of the military led by then Armed Forces chief of staff Gen. Angelo Reyes in 2001.

Reyes is also in trouble at the CA, where his nomination as energy secretary has been bypassed quite a few times.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who chairs the Senate energy committee, has posed stiff objection to the confirmation of the energy chief.

The 25-man CA, chaired by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, will hold its last plenary session tomorrow before Congress goes on a month-long Lenten break.

Sessions will resume on April 13.

Ermita said he has already transmitted the official notice of withdrawal of Mercado’s nomination to the CA Secretariat.

Ermita also disclosed that Mrs. Arroyo is giving Mercado “another position” in her administration, although he could not yet say what post this will be.

Aside from backing out from his China post, Mercado also resigned last week as president and chief executive officer of the government-sequestered RPN Channel 9 where he also sits as anchor of the network’s 5:30 p.m. newscast from Monday to Friday.

Mercado confirmed he has backed out from his China posting and has resigned from Channel 9 where he served for more than a year.

“I have tendered my resignation two weeks ago but the President has not chosen my replacement,” Mercado told The STAR.

He said he took the occasion of Ash Wednesday Mass at Channel 9 last week to formally announce his resignation before the network’s officials and employees.

“I cited the accomplishments we have worked for together at Channel 9 during the one year I’ve been with them and I apologize to anyone I may have caused some personal pain. It’s Ash Wednesday, I’m asking for apology and forgiveness,” Mercado said he told the Channel 9 staff.

Mercado also admitted he is frustrated over the handling of his confirmation at the CA by his former colleagues in Congress.

“The position is being held hostage because of the opposition to me. But I’m willing to let go. I’m not overly attached to positions. I’m not power-hungry,” Mercado said.

“In God’s time, if it’s really meant for me, let it be. If not, move on,” he said.

Mercado said that as far as he knows, the Palace has alerted the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to inform the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the withdrawal of his nomination.

As required under the Constitution, ambassadors are among officials subject to CA confirmation before they are posted abroad. Once the nominated ambassador gets the CA nod, he or she must still wait for the so-called “agreement” from the host government or the official acceptance of his being named to that country.

In the meantime, Mercado said he would resume his career in consultancy services with international agencies he was connected to prior to his stint at Channel 9. –With Aurea Calica