(Updated) Jamby blocks confirmation of 24 military officers

MANILA, Philippines - (Updated 6:11 p.m.) Claiming she was given a different list of nominees, opposition Senator Ana Consuelo Madrigal on Wednesday blocked the promotion of 24 military officers – and the confirmation of a Cabinet member and an Election commissioner. Madrigal invoked Section 20 of the Commission on Appointment's rules, which defers the confirmation of a nominee with no need for explanations or questions. "We are given two different lists. This is happening too often. This is the second time it has happened. This is treachery," she said at the plenary session of the CA. However, she said her "heart goes out" to the military men who were "unfair victims of circumstances." She did not give any further explanation for her action. Deemed bypassed were Elections commissioner Moslemen Macarambon and Health secretary Francisco Duque III, who only hours earlier had hurdled the CA at the committee level. Senate president and CA chairman Manuel Villar Jr said those bypassed will have to be reappointed. Also bypassed were: Pedro Ike Inserto (to Lt. Gen.) Nehemias Pajarito (to Maj. Gen.) Daniel Casabar Jr. (to Maj. Gen.) Nicomedes Corpuz Jr. (to Maj. Gen.) Jonathan Martir (to Brig. Gen.) Ramon Espera Jr. (to Commodore) Honorato Santos (to Brig. Gen.) Joel Babas (to Commodore) Alexander Pama (to Commodore) Celedonio Boquiren Jr. (to Brig. Gen.) Mohammad Nur Askalani (to Brig. Gen.) Gregorio Paduganan (to Brig. Gen.) Teddy Hermano (to Brig. Gen.) Mario Butch Lacson (to Brig. Gen.) Robert Noblefranca (to Commodore) Adriano Munar Jr. (to Commodore) Arthur Abadilla (to Brig. Gen.) Gerry Amante (to Col., Phil. Army) Amado Bustillos (to Col., PA) Washington Catameo (to Col., PA) Harold Cabreros (to Col., PA) Jose Tolibas (to Col., PA) Eleazar Castro (to Capt., PA) Oliver Aragon (to Col., PA) Senators tried to reason out with Madrigal during the session. Sen. Manuel Roxas II appealed to Madrigal to reconsider her action, while Sen. Richard Gordon said Section 20 must be used sparingly. "Thank you for the lecture, but it is non-debatable," Madrigal replied to Roxas. For his part, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, former Armed Forces chief of staff, also chided Madrigal, saying her action made him reconsider the question, “Is the country worth dying for?" Biazon said this incident should be an occasion to study Section 20 and whether it can be invoked in an omnibus manner. "Examine the nature and the implementation of Section 20 of the rules of this Commission," he said. But Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, said it is a matter of the rules. Wednesday's plenary was the last before the Holy Week. - GMANews.TV