Bypassed Cabinet men to be reappointed

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said yesterday President Aquino would reappoint the Cabinet members and the businessman nominated to become ambassador to China after they were bypassed again by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

“He has every confidence in the Cabinet secretaries. For one reason or another, their confirmation was not approved. But the President continues to trust in these Cabinet members and so the President will continue to reappoint them,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said.

“And we hope that, at a certain point in time, the Commission on Appointments will find favor with these five Cabinet secretaries and confirm them,” Lacierda said.

The CA bypassed five members of the Aquino Cabinet just before it went into a six-week Holy Week recess coinciding with the congressional break of the 15th Congress.

Those who did not get the CA nod were Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.

The CA also bypassed businessman Domingo Lee, who was nominated by the President as Philippine ambassador to the People’s Republic of China.

Prior to this, Lee was bypassed three times for failing to get the nod of the CA foreign affairs committee chaired by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Sen. Sergio Osmeña III had manifested his continuing objection to Lee’s nomination for the latter’s failure to provide satisfactory answers to questions related to China-Philippines relations.

Lee is a close family friend of the President and the Palace said it was not giving up hope that he would be eventually confirmed by the CA.