Bato seeks CA hearing on Duterte appointees as ‘respect’ to outgoing president

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa expressed hope that the Commission on Appointments will tackle the ad interim appointments of the last batch of officials that President Rodrigo Duterte had assigned in three constitutional commissions as "respect" to the outgoing chief executive.

"Sana, sana [i-confirm]. Kung may issues man 'yung mga members ng Commission on Appointments ay let's take it case by case. Hindi 'yung wholesale na sabihin natin na 'wag ninyong i-hear 'yan kasi pagbigyan natin 'yong incoming administration," Dela Rosa said in an interview with reporters.

"For what reason? On merits tayo. Pagusapan natin yung merit nitong mga nominees na ito. Kung hindi sila karapat-dapat, case by case, kung hindi karapat-dapat e wag nating i-confirm pero 'yung karapat-dapat, kawawa naman na madamay. So case-by-case," he added.

(For what reason? We should decide based on merits. Let's discuss the background of these nominees. If they are not worthy of the post, we should take it case by case. If they are not qualified, then we should not confirm them but let us not reject them if they are fit for the positions.)

If there are justifiable reasons that will convince him to vote against their confirmation, the senator said he would join his colleagues in blocking the appointments as long as it is based on issues.

"Kung makumbinsi mo kami, makumbinsi mo ako, samahan kita. I will object. I will not vote for that nominee, but kung wala tayong issue baka pwede naman nating pagbigyan," he raised.

(If they can convince us or me, I will join you in objecting to the confirmation. I will not vote for the nominees but if there are no issues, I think we should give them a chance.)

Apart from this, Dela Rosa said confirming the appointments of the five officials could also provide "checks and balances" for the incoming administration.

"Isa na 'yong checks and balances tsaka yung respeto na rin sa outgoing, sasama ang loob ng outgoing...After six years of serving this country, is that what he deserves na balewalain lang ang kanyang appointment? Masakit rin sa kalooban niya," he said.

(Apart from the checks and balances, this could also be a show of respect to the outgoing president. He might feel hurt. After six years of serving this country, is that what he deserves? That would hurt him if the CA would disregard his appointments.)

As someone who is close to the president, Dela Rosa said it would be normal for Duterte to feel "hurt" about the non-confirmation of his last batch of appointees.

"Alam mo 'yung mga appointment na 'yan hindi naman midnight appointment 'yan 'di ba?  Kasi at the end of the term naman talaga nagpapalitan ng tao d'yan," he said.

(These are not midnight appointments, right? Because at the end of every term, they are really changing the officials in the offices.)

"Halimbawa, nung panahon ni Pnoy ni [late former] President [Benigno] Aquino [III], 'yung kanyang pinasok na mga tao pagpasok naman ng Duterte administration wala namang hinarang doon, wala namang jinunk, wala namang instruction ang Malacanang o si President Duterte na wag ninyong i-confirm 'yan para kami ang maglagay ng tao namin, wala namang ginawa si President Duterte na ganon. So hopefully, we are expecting also na ganon ang mangyayari sa ganitong panahon," Dela Rosa further pointed out.

(As an example, the Duterte administration did not block nor junk the appointees of President Aquino. There were no instructions from Malacañang or President Duterte not to confirm the appointments so they could assign their own men in various offices. So hopefully, we are expecting the same thing in this situation.)

On Monday, CA committee on constitutional commissions deferred the hearing on the appointments of the following officials:
-Commission on Audit (COA) Chairperson Rizalina Noval Justol
-Civil Service Commission Chairperson Karlo Alexei Nograles
-Commission on Elections Chairperson Saidamen Pangarungan
-Comelec Commissioner Aimee Torrefranca-Neri
-Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia

This came after Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri raised a suggestion to give President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. a chance to pick his own appointees for the said constitutional bodies, citing a February 2016 precedent where Section 20 of the CA rules was invoked.

Section 20 of the CA rules stated that: "Any member may move for the suspension of action by the Commission on any nomination or appointment favorably recommended by a Standing Committee and the Chairman shall suspend the consideration of said nomination or appointment: Provided, that such suspension may be taken up on the next succeeding session of the Commission; Provided, further, that this section shall not apply to nominations or appointments taken up by the Commission during the last session prior to a sine die adjournment of Congress and as provided under Section 25 of the Rules."

The CA has reset the deliberations of the appointments of the five Duterte appointees on Wednesday morning.—LDF, GMA News