Jinggoy won’t stop De Lima’s confirmation

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Jinggoy Estrada clarified yesterday that he has nothing against Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who has yet to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Estrada said that he has no intention to block the confirmation of De Lima if ever she manages to secure an endorsement from the CA committee on justice, judicial and bar council.

However, he stood by his decision to stop the confirmation of Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Heidi Mendoza, whose appointment will again be heard at the Senate on Tuesday.

Estrada noted that the issues that have been raised against Mendoza remain unanswered.

Earlier, Mendoza’s appointment was opposed by a former COA auditor and a lawyer of Elenita Binay, wife of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Estrada is the chairman of the CA panel that tackled the appointment of Mendoza.

Mendoza, along with Commission on Elections Commissioners Luie Tito Guia and Al Parreño, will face the Senate for their respective confirmation hearings on Tuesday.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje will undergo his fourth confirmation hearing on Wednesday.

Apart from De Lima and Paje, other Cabinet members who have yet to be confirmed by the CA are Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman and Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla.