Roxas: Santiago within her rights to block my confirmation as DILG chief

Transportation and Communications chief Manuel Roxas II on Tuesday said he respects Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago’s decision to block the confirmation of his nomination as incoming Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). Roxas said it is within Santiago’s rights as member of the Commission on Appointments (CA) to oppose any Cabinet official’s confirmation. “Dating senador din ako at dati ring miyembro ng CA. Iyang karapatan na iyan ay nakapaloob naman sa bawat miyembro ng CA…Gagawin ko naman kung anuman ang mapagpasyahan nila,” he told reporters at the House of Representatives. Roxas was at the lower chamber on Tuesday afternoon to defend the proposed budget of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) for next year. Earlier in the day, Santiago wrote Senator Vicente Sotto III, CA interior and local government panel chairperson, informing that committee that she intends to veto Roxas’ confirmation. Santiago said while she considers Roxas as “qualified” for his new post, she has to make good on her vow to block the confirmation of any Cabinet official who failed to show at the hearing on the power and authority of former Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno, which was held last Friday. Roxas explained that he properly notified the Senate committee on constitutional amendments that he “cannot contribute” anything to the probe. “The invitation was for an assessment and evaluation of the performance of USec Puno, e wala naman ako mako-contribute kasi nasa DOTC ako. Hanggang ngayon wala pa ako sa DILG. Hindi ko naman nakatrabaho si Usec Puno sa kahit anong paraan,” the DOTC chief said. — BM, GMA News