CA panel suspends hearing on DOTR chief Bautista's appointment

A Commission on Appointment committee suspended Wednesday the deliberations on the ad interim appointment of Jaime Bautista as secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) due to time constraints.

"For lack of material time and considering that there are still other members who still want to propound questions to the appointee, I move to suspend the deliberation on the ad interim appointment of Secretary Jaime Jimenez Bautista as secretary of the Department of Transportation until further notice," CA Majority Leader and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte explained that another CA committee has to deliberate the appointments of at least 61 diplomats from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

CA Chairman and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri apologized for cutting the hearing short due to lack of material time.

The hearing on Bautista's appointment was briefly halted due to the 5.3 magnitude earthquake that jolted Tinaga Island, Camarines Norte.

Due to the earthquake, the senators, congressmen, Senate employees, and other staff members were asked to vacate the GSIS building in Pasay City where the CA hearing is being conducted .

"First of all, we apologize, Secretary. It was force majeure. Your hearing is so dramatic that nagkaroon ng earthquake na may impact talaga. But we're really running out of time because there's 61 foreign affairs officials [to face the CA panel]. We'll invite you back again next week, the soonest possible time to join us here, to answer the questions," Zubiri said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News