Lee re-nominated, 4 Cabinet men re-appointed

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has re-nominated to the Commission on Appointments (CA) businessman Domingo Lee as ambassador to China even after the objection of Sen. Sergio Osmeña III to the appointment.

The Palace also submitted to the CA the re-appointment of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Energy Secretary Ramon Paje.

President Aquino also submitted for confirmation the ad interim appointment of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. and Eduardo Martin Meñez as chief of mission of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Lee’s confirmation was deferred after Osmeña objected to his appointment as ambassador to China.

Osmeña claimed Lee has no actual diplomatic experience as he was only appointed as honorary ambassador by the late former President Corazon Aquino with a one-peso yearly salary.

Apart from China, Lee will also have concurrent jurisdiction as envoy to South Korea and Mongolia.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile deferred the confirmation of Lee following the objection raised by Osmeña in November last year.

The Senate has set Wednesday mornings for the CA hearings, but has yet to schedule the hearings for any Cabinet official this year.

Last Tuesday, the senators agreed to set aside Monday mornings for caucus, with legislative sessions conducted during Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

CA secretary Arturo Tiu issued an official announcement on Jimenez’s appointment as well as that of Meñez in a newspaper.