Cayetano is Commission on Appointments minority leader
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 23) – Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was elected minority floor leader of the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday, but not without opposition from a colleague.
At the commission’s first plenary session, Sen. Risa Hontiveros expressed “serious concern” over Cayetano holding the post as he is not a member of the Senate minority bloc, composed of herself and Sen. Koko Pimentel.
“Hindi pwedeng majority tayo o independent tayo o minority tayo sa iba't ibang panahon para sa iba’t ibang layunin. It is important for bodies such as these to have clarity as to the positions of each member. This is important for lines of accountability, and important to ensure that we have a genuine minority voice,” said the opposition lawmaker.
[Translation: We cannot just be part of the majority or be independent or the minority in different times for different purposes.]
Cayetano, who reiterated he is part of what he called independent minority bloc of both the Senate and CA, said the labeling is based on Senate rules wherein a member becomes part of the minority if he or she did not vote for the Senate president.
He added he has been “very consistent” with his advocacies.
"I think both Senator Risa and I just found it an important thing to clarify and thank you for the time. Maybe when we are in the process of looking at the qualifications of the nominees of the president, you will also give the minority this leeway of having a little bit more time," said Cayetano.
Besides Cayetano and Hontiveros, the Senate members in the CA are Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Chiz Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, Francis Tolentino, and Cynthia Villar.
Under the Constitution, Senate President Migz Zubiri is chairperson of the bicameral commission.
Other CA members of the House of Representatives took their oaths during the session:
- Pangasinan Rep. Ramon Guico Jr. as vice chairperson
- Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. LRay Villafuerte as majority floor leader
- SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta as assistant majority floor leader
- Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel as assistant minority floor leader
The rest of the House panel were Cavite 2nd District Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, Iloilo 4th District Rep. Ferjenel Biron, Bacolod City Rep. Greg Gasataya, Bataan 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia, GP PARTY Rep. Jose Gay Padiernos, Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, and Caloocan City 1st District Rep. Oscar Malapitan.
The CA, as a constitutional body, has the power to approve, bypass, or reject appointments of the chief executive. It must act on all submitted appointments within 30 Congress session days.
