Miriam cries foul after failing to block Soliman's confirmation

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said the Liberal Party is resorting to "dirty tricks" to confirm the appointment of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman.

Santiago's statements came after the Commission on Appointments (CA) committee on labor, employment and social welfare, recommended this Wednesday morning Soliman's confirmation.

Santiago was expected to veto Soliman's nomination during the plenary deliberation originally set this afternoon. She said the Cabinet official has been "overstaying" as social welfare and development secretary from the time President Aquino assumed office.

However, the plenary deliberation this afternoon was rescheduled on June 11, the Congress' last session day before it adjourns sine die.

Santiago said the "foul plot" of Senate President Franklin Drilon and other members of the Liberal Party in the CA has deprived her of the opportunity to exercise her veto on Soliman's confirmation.

"On the June 4 plenary session, I am allowed to raise my veto against Soliman. But on June 11, I will lose the veto, because of the Rules of the Commission on Appointments. Thus, Drilon and his Liberal Party cohorts will be able to deny my veto power by simply postponing the plenary session by one week," Santiago said.

The senator explained that under Section 20 of the CA rules, any member of the bicameral commission can block nominations or appointments except those taken up the during the last session prior to a sine die adjournment of Congress.

Drilon, for his part, said Santiago may still oppose Soliman's confirmation, but she can no longer block it by invoking section 20 of the CA rules.

"There is no certainty of confirmation. When the confirmation is brought on June 11, Senator Santiago can certainly oppose," Drilon said. "But the opposition will be a subject to debate and will be voted upon."

Meanwhile, Malacañang is asking Santiago not to give Soliman a hard time during the plenary deliberation.

"We ask Senator Santiago to look kindly on Secretary Soliman. She has done nothing but service for the country," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing.

Lacierda added that Soliman is among the most hard working Cabinet officials especially when it comes to typhoon and calamities.

Besides Soliman, the appointment of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima has yet to be confirmed by the CA.

Earlier today, De Lima faced her critics in her confirmation hearing, including Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

Read: Jinggoy: De Lima got P1M monthly allowance from GMA

The justice chief denied Estrada's allegation that she accepted a P1 million in monthly allowance during her term as Commission on Human Rights chairperson under the Arroyo administration.

Lacierd said the Palace continues to trust have confidence on De Lima's confidence.