House elects new Commission on Appointment members

The House of Representatives on Wednesday elected new members for the Commission on Appointments (CA) during a special session called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Those elected as members of the House contingent for CA were:

• Deputy Speaker and La Union 1st District Representative Francisco Paolo Ortega V;
• TGP Party-list Representative Jose Teves Jr.;
• Quezon City 3rd District Representative Franz Pumaren;
• Quezon 1st District Representative Wilfrido Mark Enverga; and
• Negros Occidental 6th District Representative Mercedes Alvarez.

The abovementioned took the places of Camiguin Representative Jesus Romualdo, Abono Party-list Representative Robert Raymond Estrella, Agusan del Sur 2nd District Representative Eddiebong Plaza, Cavite 5th District Representative Roy Loyola and Camarines Sur 4th District Representative Arnie Fuentebella.

Marcos called for the special session under Proclamation 1318 to urgently consider the passage of eight identified priority measures and enable the CA to convene and act on appointments made to the Cabinet, the military, and the foreign service.

Up for confirmation of the CA are the appointments of eight Cabinet members, five generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and other appointees to diplomatic posts.

The CA is authorized to confirm or reject presidential appointments as a check and balance mechanism against appointment abuse, and protect and enhance the public interest. —KG, GMA News