CA panel suspends deliberations on DFA chief Manalo's appointment due to time constraints

A Commission on Appointments (CA) panel on Wednesday suspended the deliberations on Enrique Manalo’s nomination as Secretary of Foreign Affairs due to time constraints.

It was CA Majority Leader Luis Raymund Villafuerte who made the motion for the CA foreign affairs committee to suspend the deliberations as the bicameral commission still needed to convene the plenary and hold an executive session as requested by CA Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano.

The motion was seconded by Senator JV Ejercito.

Legislators brought up issues affecting passport issuance during the hearing.

Senator Imee Marcos also aired her frustration over Manalo's failure to attend the Senate foreign relations committee's organizational hearing and the delay in the submission of the DFA's position on certain matters such as the Visiting Forces Agreement, Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Marcos chairs the Senate foreign relations committee.

“It is just my regret that we were unable to have the briefing the other day. I completely apologize for that, but it was honestly completely beyond my control, but I would have definitely come had these previous engagements not been there," Manalo said.

"But certainly, to assure the chairperson that we have every intention of cooperating with your committee, and in fact, I want us to have open communication at all times," he added.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri echoed Marcos' concern, saying the committee has yet to be organized.

He said that the Senate cannot defend the budget of the DFA for 2023 if they will not be briefed by the agency about their plans and programs.

Manalo faced the CA committee on Wednesday along with Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez and Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations Antonio Lagdameo. —VBL, GMA News