Ona, Montejo, Baldoz confirmed

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Appointments (CA) has confirmed the appointments of Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz and Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo. Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago earlier threatened to invoke section 20 of the CA rules – which allows one CA member to reject the approval of all other members – to veto Ona’s confirmation if he could not address her concern about the government’s policy on kidney transplants. 

She directed Ona to clarify the status of two administrative orders issued by his predecessor, one prohibiting the donation of kidneys to non-related recipients and another establishing a national program for sharing of organs from deceased donors.

Ona explained in writing that the two orders are still being implemented and he has no intention of revising those.       

Only then did Santiago withdraw her objections to the confirmation of Ona’s appointment.

Most members of the CA, on the other hand, endorsed Baldoz’s appointment, considering her background as a lawyer who rose from the ranks to become head of the labor department.

“It is a good signal to send to the public that this Commission sees the merit of people rising from the ranks and rewarding these people,” said Sen. Edgardo Angara.

Montejo, an engineer and inventor, was also confirmed after laying out the various programs of the DOST for the short and medium term.

The CA earlier confirmed the appointments of eight Cabinet members: Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr., Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim, Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Education Secretary Armin Luistro and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

The confirmation of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin was deferred to a later date after Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano expressed his intention to question the nominee.

Minor revamp

A minor revamp in the Cabinet is expected this week and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo might be the most affected by the revamp.

In an interview at Camp Aguinaldo after his command conference, President Aquino admitted he is having a hard time finding a place for Romulo.

“Bert (Romulo) is not a stranger to me,” he said. “He still has a contribution he can make so I want to make sure that when I make a pronouncement, it is already perfect.”

Romulo was a senator during the administration of Aquino’s mother, the late Corazon Aquino.

Romulo supposedly wants the Commission on Audit portfolio that will give him a fixed seven-year term.

Sources, however, said Romulo might be appointed as the country’s representative to the United Nations, while former Ambassador Albert del Rosario will take the helm of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Group to Ona: discourage cigarette use now

In reaction to Ona’s confirmation by the CA, the group Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP) asked him to implement measures to curb the use of cigarettes in the country. 

The group earlier asked Ona to make a stand on Republic Act 921l, also known as the Tobacco Regulation Act, which stipulates the printing of graphic warning signs on cigarette packs.

“Now that he has been confirmed, we hope that he will fulfill his mandate of protecting the people against the harmful effects of cigarettes,” said FCAP president Maricar Limpin. – With Delon Porcalla, Sheila Crisostomo