Estrada delays confirmation of Heidi Mendoza's COA appointment

MANILA, Philippines - The confirmation of Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Heidi Mendoza has been stalled yet again.

Government-owned Philippine News Agency reported that Mendoza's confirmation before the Commission on Appointments (CA) has been deferred anew upon the request of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada.

The report said while the beleagured senator had reserved two questions regarding Mendoza's appointment, he was actually absent during the deliberation.

The COA commissioner appealed to the Commission on Appointments (CA) not to further defer her appointment's confirmation.

"I’m willing to serve the government without any stain of corruption," Mendoza was quoted as saying in the PNA report.

Last week, the STAR reported that Estrada had vowed to block the confirmation of Mendoza and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

The senator said he has a lot to bring up against the two officials, who both play vital roles in the investigation on the alleged multi-billion-peso pork barrel scam.

At the height of the controversy last year, the COA revealed in a special audit report that Estrada and several lawmakers misaligned their Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from 2007 to 2009.

The COA report said several legislators, including Estrada, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile, were found to have endorsed their projects to the dubious foundations of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

According to the STAR report last week, Estrada said Section 20 of the CA rule allows CA members like him to block the confirmation of any nominee during the plenary session without even giving a reason. - Louis Bacani