Ex-DFA chief opposes Paderanga's confirmation

MANILA, Philippines - Former Foreign secretary Roberto Romulo is opposing the confirmation of the appointment of economic planning secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Cayetano Paderanga.

The STAR has learned that Romulo, who has publicly criticized President Aquino’s choice of Paderanga as his economic planning secretary, has formalized his opposition to the NEDA chief before the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Reached for comment yesterday, Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian, who chairs the CA committee handling Paderanga’s nomination, confirmed that Romulo has filed a complaint against the nominee.

“The nature of his complaint stems from Secretary Paderanga’s previous engagement with the firms run by Mr. Romulo,” he said.

He said his committee has not held any hearing on the NEDA chief’s nomination “because he has yet to complete his documentary submissions.”

Gatchalian did not go into the details of Romulo’s complaint against Paderanga.

The economic planning secretary had been president of Credit Information Bureau Inc. (CIBI), a company chaired by Romulo.

In his public criticism of Paderanga’s appointment, Romulo claimed that the appointee had neglected to pay the company’s taxes for at least three years when he was CIBI president.

The appointee was also accused of hiring his brother-in-law as consultant.

Others who criticized Aquino’s choice of Paderanga were the NEDA chief’s former colleagues at the Philippine Stock Exchange.

They said they ousted him after serving only six months as president of the exchange because of alleged mismanagement.

Over the weekend, The STAR also learned that Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron had single-handedly derailed the confirmation of Energy Secretary Rene Almendras.

Biron confirmed that he confronted Almendras about reports of corruption involving the local electric cooperative in his province.

“It’s about bribery, which attended the power supply agreement between ILECO (Iloilo Electric Cooperative) 3 and the independent power producer, ARTECH,” he said in a text message.

“Next is the questionable sale of the Panay power plant for $5 million when the valuation was $30 million. On top of that, the power plant in Bohol was given away for free,” he said.

However, a CA colleague of Biron said Almendras felt that deals and irregularities that took place before his appointment should not be taken against him, and that he should be given time to look into these issues.

Of the 19 Cabinet nominations President Aquino submitted to the CA, only four have been confirmed.

These are Secretary Armin Luistro of education, Proceso Alcala of agriculture, Rogelio Singson of public works and highways, and Alberto Lim of tourism.