GMA submits to Commission of Appointments names of new ad interim appointments

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has submitted before the Commission of Appointments (CA) the names of her new ad interim appointments and nomination for approval of the committee with only three days left before Congress adjourns next week.

In a paid advertisement, the CA said it has received the ad interim appointment of Evelyn San Buenaventura as commissioner of the Commission on Audit. The appointment was referred to the CA committee on Constitutional Commission on Offices.

CA Secretary Antonio Liu also announced that there are five foreign affairs officials whose appointments are up for deliberations. They are Linglingay Lacanlale, chief of mission and ambassador extraordinary and plenipotenciary to the Kingdom of Thailand and permanent representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific; Lourdes Yparraguirre as chief of mission and ambassador to Austria with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republics of Croatia, Slovenia and Slovakia; Nestor Padalhin as ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Romeo Manalo to the Republic of Italy; and Behnarim Guinomia, to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

A large contingent of military officers led by Vice Admiral Emilio Marayag Jr. is also set to be deliberated upon by the CA committee on national defense.

“The public may submit any information, written report or sworn complaints or opposition in 40 copies on the above nominations and appointments to the CA secretariat located at the 6th floor of the PNB Financial Center in Roxas Blvd., Pasay City,” Tiu said.

GMA to make appointments in Ombudsman

President Arroyo will also appoint a new Special Prosecutor and a Deputy for Luzon at the Ombudsman as the positions will be declared vacant by mid-February and on the first week of March, respectively.

Special Prosecutor Dennis Villa-Ignacio’s seven-year term as head of the prosecutorial arm of the Office of the Ombudsman will end on Feb. 14, 2010.

Four other ranking officials of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) are vying for the position and are up for a panel interview with members of the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) on Feb. 16, 2010.

Deputy Special Prosecutor I Robert Kallos who is also chief of the Appellate Special Action Bureau (ASAB) leads the list of applicants for the position.

Deputy Special Prosecutor II Jesus Micael, Deputy Special Prosecutor III and Case Assessment Review and Reinvestigation Bureau (CARRIB) and Administrative Division chief Wendell Sulit, and Assistant Special Prosecutor III Hazelina Militante are the other aspirants.

For the position of Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon which will be vacated by Victor Fernandez on March 3, 2010, four other ranking officials of the Office of the Ombudsman’s central office and the OSP are up against each other along with five outsiders.

Applicants who will be facing the JBC in a panel interview on Feb. 9 and 10, 2010 include Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni who is currently chief of the Field Investigation Office (FIO); Assistant Ombudsman and spokesperson Jose de Jesus Jr. who used to head the Preliminary Investigation and Administrative Adjudication and Monitoring Office (PAMO); OSP – Prosecution Bureau VI Director Diosdado Calonge; and Senior Graft Investigation Officer Roque Damian Dator.

Sensitive posts

Both positions of special prosecutor and deputy ombudsman for Luzon are being considered as very powerful posts at the anti-graft agency.

Villa-Ignacio, in an interview, said his job is to spearhead the OSP’s work before the Sandiganbayan in prosecuting high-profile and high-ranking officials of government.

And considering how he was the lead prosecutor in the plunder case against former President Joseph Estrada, he said the next special prosecutor should be one who is ready to take on such a task in case President Arroyo herself is charged and tried for graft.

“If the new SP is selected by the current administration, let us hope that he will have the same determination, integrity, and credibility to act on former officials of government including PGMA and other members of her family,” Villa-Ignacio told The STAR.

“You may be competent yet down (when it comes to) integrity and credibility,” he explained noting that one’s “independence” is very important to do a good job as special prosecutor. – With Michael Punongbayan