GMA to reappoint 60 bypassed officials

Malacañang is expected to reappoint 60 government officials, including five Cabinet members and two elections commissioners, whose appointments have been bypassed by the Commission on Appointments.

Among those due for re-appointment are Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr., Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, Economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, and Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.

Commission on Elections commissioners Leonardo Leonida and Elias Yusoph, Civil Service Commission Chairman Ricardo Saludo, and Ambassadors Ma. Corazon Yap-Bahjin and Alejandro del Rosario, to Bahrain and Poland respectively, are also up for reappointment.

Rep. Eduardo Gullas, who heads the House of Representatives contingent to the CA, said they confirmed 62 appointees in their first two sessions this year before they adjourned.

“However, 60 others were left out, ” he said.

“They will have to be re-appointed so we can consider them again when Congress resumes session on April 13.”

However, Gullas said the CA could not act on former senator Orlando Mercado’s new designation as ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“We cannot act on a nominee whose papers have not been endorsed to us by Malacañang,” he said.

Malacañang earlier withdrew Mercado’s nomination as ambassador to China, Mongolia and North Korea due to the objections of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

Instead, Mercado was named Permanent Representative to the ASEAN.

Estrada said Mercado is still subject to confirmation as envoy to ASEAN, but Malacañang has insisted that his new post is a special assignment.

Mercado served as defense secretary during the Estrada administration but switched to the other side at the height of the military-backed civilian uprising that toppled Estrada in January 2001.

Expected to be re-appointed are 20 senior military officers: Majors General Rudival Cabading, Arturo Ortiz, Eduardo Oban Jr., Romeo Prestoza, Arthur Mancenido, and Jonathan Martir; Commodores Efren Tedor and Rosauro Arnel Gonzales Jr.;

Brigadiers General William Esplana, Nicolas Ojeda Jr., Pedro Ramon Sinajon Jr., Carlos Luces, Roberto Morales, Felizardo Simoy, Teodoro Evangelista, Alger Tan, and Raynard Ronnie Javier; and Colonels Paul Pompeyo Dario Jr., Jay Tindoy, and Prisco Viñalon.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also has 30 executives with the rank of foreign service officer to chief of mission due for re-appointment.

In its Feb. 18 and March 4 plenary sessions, the CA confirmed the appointments of Comelec members Lucenito Tagle and Armando Velasco; Ambassador Ariel Abadilla (to Ireland); and 22 executives at the DFA with the rank of foreign service officer to chief of mission.

The CA also confirmed 37 senior military officers with the rank of colonel (or Navy captain) to lieutenant general.

Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, former chief of the Presidential Security Group and also erstwhile head of the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces, led those who were confirmed, which also included Maj. Gen. Oscar Rabena, the new Air Force chief.         – Delon Porcalla