No confirmation for Robredo

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Appointments (CA) will not posthumously confirm the late interior and local government secretary Jesse Robredo.

“They say we can’t do that (since) there’s no benefit for the nominee or even for the family of the nominee,” Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III told the weekly Kapihan sa Senado yesterday.

After a check with CA records, Sotto, also chairman of the CA subcommittee on local government, said the body previously awarded a posthumous confirmation to a general so that his family would be able to claim higher benefits.

But in Robredo’s case, the benefits which his family may receive as a result of his death will not be affected even if the CA was unable to act on his appointment.

Robredo died in a plane crash along with the two pilots in Masbate last Aug. 18.

Robredo’s CA hearing scheduled yesterday was cancelled.

The issue on Robredo’s confirmation was highlighted after his death. However, his widow Leni said her husband was not obsessed with getting the CA nod as long as he was able to do his job.

Leni recalled her husband preferred that she hold a novena and pray for their children to pass their exams rather than pray for him to get CA approval.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, for her part, filed a resolution seeking the creation of a trust fund for the children of Robredo and other government officials who may find themselves in a similar situation in the future.

Santiago filed Senate Resolution 853, recognizing Robredo’s “unwavering dedication and tireless commitment to the betterment of Philippine society” as reason for the creation of the trust for his three young children, who are all still in school.

Santiago said such a trust should also be applicable to those in government similarly situated, such as those who died in the line of duty, and those who, by standards to be set by the Civil Service Commission, shall be worthy to receive such funding for their children.

“This trust fund shall be limited to non-military, non-police personnel and government employees only,” Santiago said.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) director general William Hotchkiss III belied reports claiming the Piper Seneca plane of Aviatour Air piloted by Bahinting and Chand was not cleared for chartered flight.

Hotchkiss also declared Bahinting, the owner and operator of Aviatour Air, had all valid pilot licenses, flight instructor permits, and his firm had all valid permits.

Hotchkiss said these were all confirmed by the CAAP’s Civil Aviation Safety Oversight Reporting and Tracking System (CASORT) database.

He added the CASORT data showed Bahinting’s flight instructor and commercial pilot licenses, both issued on 30 April 2012 and are valid until March 2013, and with rating to fly planes with single and multiple engines.

“It was inopportune that some personnel in CAAP not cleared administratively to issue official statements are circulating pure and baseless speculations,” Hotchkiss added.

He warned CAAP personnel disseminating such false reports that they would be subject to administrative action.

Hotchkiss also said the right engine of the plane will be transferred to Manila from the Masbate airport over the weekend where it will be examined by CAAP’s 5-man Special Investigation Committee piece by piece.

“We are committed to conduct a thorough, comprehensive and impartial investigation of the plane incident,” Hotchkiss said. “We intend to provide accurate, validated information on the progress of the inspection based on the committee’s findings.

“We appeal (to the public) not to make a circus out of this incident and muddle the investigation with baseless and unwarranted speculations. This will not help CAAP’s impartial and transparent investigation process,” Hotchkiss added.

CA secretary Arturo Tiu, meanwhile, notified members of the CA about the caucus and plenary session set on Sept. 5 at the Senate, upon the request of CA chairman Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

Sen. Joker Arroyo, chairman of the CA subcommittee on justice and judicial and bar council, has called for a hearing on the ad interim appointment of Aurora Santiago-Lagman as member of the JBC representing the private sector. – Rainier Allan Ronda