CA vows to act swiftly on appointments

The Commission on Appointments (CA) will act swiftly on the appointments of Cabinet officials and major promotions in the military and diplomatic service.

Davao City Rep. Prospero Nograles, who heads the House contingent in the CA, said yesterday he would work for fast action on appointments and promotions that President Arroyo would submit to the commission.

“There will be only ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and no ‘maybes’ on government appointments. If possible, we will avoid the practice of bypassing appointees, which will just allow the President to reappoint them all over again,” he said. “It will be either in or out.”

He said the CA of the 14th Congress “must confirm or reject appointees in the shortest possible time and not keep them hanging.”

Nograles’ promise of swift action was apparently in response to complaints aired recently by at least three Cabinet members.

Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and outgoing Secretaries Romulo Neri of Economic Planning and Raphael Lotilla of Energy have all complained of long delays in their confirmation by the CA.

In the case of Teves, his father, former Negros Oriental congressman Herminio Teves, had accused certain members of the House CA contingent of demanding P5 million from his son and other Cabinet officials in exchange for their confirmation.

Secretary Teves himself said he personally received from these congressmen “requests in kind” – specifically appointments for relatives and friends in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs.

Former Surigao del Sur representative Prospero Pichay, who headed the House CA contingent in the previous Congress, denied he and certain colleagues had demanded money and favors from Cabinet appointees, though he admitted discussing their and other House members’ “concerns” with Secretary Teves.

The appointments of Teves, Neri and Lotilla have been pending for more than two years now.

Meanwhile, Malacañang assured the CA yesterday it would abide by the confirmation process for the appointees of the President as provided for under the law.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the executive branch has no intention of avoiding the CA confirmation process.

Earlier, Senate President Manny Villar reminded Malacañang that all Cabinet appointees should appear at the CA hearings. He said several Cabinet members have gotten away with performing their duties without first being confirmed. – With Marvin Sy