Miriam vows to show compassion at CA confirmation hearings

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago has vowed to be compassionate with President Aquino’s Cabinet at the Commission on Appointments (CA) on the Dalai Lama’s advice.

In a statement, Santiago said she has learned the virtue of compassion in Tibetan Buddhism after meeting the Dalai Lama in Rome last year and in New Delhi earlier this month.

However, Santiago did not take back her threat to invoke Section 20 of the CA’s rules against at least six Cabinet officials whom she considered as “smug, self-satisfied and non-elected appointees.”

Santiago said based on CA tradition, Section 20 is interpreted to mean that just one CA member has the power to cause the bypass of a Cabinet member.

“Section 20 allows one member to move for the suspension of the consideration of a Cabinet member submitted for confirmation by the President,” she said. 

“The motion is non-debatable. There is no voting. The CA chair has to automatically grant the motion.”

Section 20 provides that “any member may move for the suspension of action by the Commission on any nomination or appointment favorably recommended by a standing committee, and the Chairman shall suspend the consideration of said nomination or appointment.”

It adds: “Such suspension may be taken up on the next succeeding session of the Commission; Provided, further, that this section shall not apply to nominations or appointments taken up by the Commission during the last session prior to a sine die adjournment of Congress.”

Last Wednesday, Santiago decided to make a rare appearance to preside over a CA hearing on seven ambassadors appointed by Aquino.

After the hearing, Santiago explained her decision to hold the confirmation of Education Secretary Armin Luistro, the first Cabinet official to go through the CA under the current administration. – Marvin Sy, Eva Visperas