Bill prohibiting reappointment of Cabinet officials twice bypassed filed

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. filed a bill yesterday seeking to prohibit the President from re-appointing Cabinet members and other executive officials bypassed twice by the Commission on Appointments.

Pimentel said there must be a legislative check to the power of the President to reappoint bypassed Cabinet members and other presidential appointees to prevent an abuse of such power.

Senate Bill 2981 also bans the payment of salaries, emoluments, per diems and other benefits to the persons concerned.

Pimentel said the proposal would put an end to the “distasteful and ridiculous practice” of the President reappointing top officials of her administration who had been bypassed several times by the CA, which was tantamount to a rejection.

He said re-nominating or reappointing bypassed officials was a disregard or defiance of the judgment or assessment of the CA that a particular nominee fell short of the requisite qualifications to become competent and effective in performing official duties.

“Through this bill, the constitutional mandate of the Commission on Appointments to act as a check on the presidential appointing power may be realized,” he said.

Pimentel stressed that the power to scrutinize the validity of the presidential power to nominate or appoint and the fitness and qualifications of the nominees or appointees is embodied in the constitutional doctrine of checks and balances. This principle ensures that the three branches of government act within their respective boundaries ordained by the Constitution. – Aurea Calica