Appointment of 12 Cabinet secretaries bypassed

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12 Cabinet appointees bypassed as Congress adjourns
Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Flaminiano Pangandaman and Foreign Affairs Secretary Ambassador Luis Enrique Manalo got the Commission on Appointments’ nod on their ad interim appointments, during the body’s plenary session on Sept 29, presided over by Senate President / CA Chairperson Juan Miguel Zubiri. Photo from the CA.
  • The appointment of 12 Cabinet secretaries, including Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista, were not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments owing to lack of time
  • President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will have to reappoint the officials

The Commission on Appointments (CA) bypassed the appointment of 12 Cabinet secretaries, including Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista, due to lack of time, according to CA chairperson and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The officials who were not confirmed on September 29 were:

  • Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno
  • Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan
  • Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista
  • Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual
  • Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan
  • Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla
  • Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy
  • Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.
  • Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo
  • Human Settlements Secretary Jose Acuzar
  • Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople
  • Commission on Audit Chairman Jose Calida
  • Commission on Elections Commissioner Nelson Celis
  • Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles

Former Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez was on the list of bypassed officials, but he has already resigned from his post and been replaced by former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin.

Zubiri said these officials whose appointments were not confirmed by the CA will have to be reappointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

He said there was a “lack of material time” to tackle the appointments.

The CA, however, was able to approve the ad interim appointments of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Foreign Affairs Secretary Luis Enrique Manalo during its plenary session on September 28.

On September 27, the commission confirmed the appointments of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Masonsong Estrella III, Environmental and Natural Resources Secretary Ma. Antonia Loyzaga, and Tourism Secretary Ma. Esperanza Christina Frasco.

Both Houses of Congress are set to adjourn on October 1 and sessions will resume on November 7.

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