Tourism chief faces CA today

MANILA, Philippines – Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. faces the scrutiny of the Commission on Appointments (CA) today, a year after President Aquino appointed him.

Senate President and CA chairman Juan Ponce Enrile and committee on tourism and economic development chairman Rex Gatchalian set the deliberations on Jimenez’s appointment at 10 a.m. at the Senate’s Sen. Ambrosio Padilla Room.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson had criticized Jimenez for taking his oath of office without getting the approval of the CA.

Lacson reminded Malacañang that under CA rules, appointments go through stages of nomination, consent, appointment and acceptance by the appointive official.

Malacañang clarified that Jimenez was appointed in acting capacity after the resignation of Alberto Lim.

Apart from Jimenez, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje have yet to get the CA’s nod.

The CA also has yet to act on the on the appointment of National Economic and Development Authority director-general Arsenio Balisacan, Commission on Audit commissioner Heidi Mendoza and some foreign service officers and the promotion of military generals.

Meanwhile, Sen. Vicente Sotto III, chairman of the CA committee on interior and local government, said the CA could set a hearing on the appointment of Manuel Roxas II as interior and local government secretary by Sept. 19 before Congress goes into a two-week break.

The Palace transmitted Roxas’ nomination to the appointments body on Monday.

Sotto said the CA should comply with the one-week requirement for the publication of appointments before Roxas’ confirmation hearing could be set.

The new DILG chief should get the confirmation of the CA before he could assume office, since the President appointed him while Congress is in session.

The CA will also look into the nomination of Aurora Santiago Lagman, who was nominated as member of the Judicial and Bar Council to represent the private sector.

Sen. Joker Arroyo, chairman of the CA committee on justice and the Judicial and Bar Council, set the hearing at 11 a.m. today.