4 Cabinet men bypassed by CA

MANILA, Philippines - The 15th Congress adjourned sine die last Thursday with four Cabinet members bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Malacañang said President Aquino would reappoint bypassed Secretaries Ramon Paje of the environment and natural resources, Jericho Carlos Petilla of energy, Leila de Lima of justice and Corazon Soliman of social welfare and development.

Petilla was recently appointed to his post, but De Lima, Paje and Soliman have been bypassed and reappointed by Malacañang since their appointments in 2010.

Grace Padaca, Louie Tito Guia and Al Parreño were also bypassed as commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Padaca’s term is expiring on Feb. 2, 2018. She replaced former commissioner Augusto Lagman.

Parreño replaced Commissioner Rene Sarmiento while Guia replaced Armando Velasco, who reached retirement age early this year.

Heidi Mendoza and Rowena Guanzon, commissioners of the Commission on Audit (COA), and Nieves Osorio, a commissioner of the Civil Service Commission, also need re-appointment papers from Malacañang after the CA failed to act on their appointments.

The CA also bypassed several military and foreign service officers.

If re-appointed by the President Aquino, the bypassed officials will have to line up for the confirmation process when the 16th Congress convenes and the House and Senate designate the new members of the CA.

Malacañang confirmed yesterday that President Aquino would reappoint the officials bypassed by the CA.

 Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President would issue ad interim appointments to the bypassed officials.  With Alexis Romero