CA approves appointment of 32 AFP officials

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Appointments (CA) approved yesterday the ad interim appointments and nominations of 32 generals, flag officers and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Senate President and concurrent CA chairman Francis Escudero said the body gave its consent to the nominations of the 32 AFP officials.

CA Majority Leader Rep. LRay Villafuerte said the CA committee on national defense acknowledged and commended the unwavering commitment and sacrifices made by the brave men and women of the AFP.

“Recognizing their contributions not only boosts morale but also enhances national pride and fosters a spirit of togetherness among all citizens. They fulfill their responsibilities wherever they are deployed,” Villafuerte said at the hearing of the committee.

The hearing also highlighted the resolve of the Philippine Navy on the issue of the West Philippine Sea.

“The mere fact that the will of the people and the will of the AFP to perform our mandate is still there sends a strong message that we will not back down, we will not be deterred,” said one of the nominees, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad.

Trinidad, the concurrent deputy commander and Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the objective of the Chinese Communist Party is “mission kill” – to make it more expensive for the Philippines to conduct the country’s mandate in the West Philippine Sea.

He said that filing another diplomatic case against China in an international court might deter Chinese aggression, concurring with Villafuerte’s suggestion.

“The filing of another case would incur a lot of reputational cost for the Chinese Communist Party. So, we will know by that messaging if they are scared of this particular action that our government will take,” Trinidad said.

Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Romualdez announced during Tuesday’s House plenary session that several lawmakers have been named heads of several committees, after President Marcos’ appointment of TESDA chief Jose Francisco Benitez.

The House’s committee on housing and urban development, formerly headed by Benitez, is now led by San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida Robes.

Meanwhile, the committee on good government and public accountability that Robes used to head will now be taken over by Rep. Joel Chua of the third district of Manila.

Members of the House majority bloc nominated Nueva Ecija Rep. Rosanna Ria Vergara as the vice chairperson of the committee on housing and urban development.

Reps. Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur, Romeo Acop of Antipolo, Edvic Yap of ACT-CIS party-list, Rodante Marcoleta of Sagip party-list, Crispin Diego Remulla of Cavite and Roberto Uy of Zamboanga del Norte were also elected as vice chairpersons of the same panel. – Delon Porcalla