Paje fails to get CA confirmation; remains optimistic to gain nod next week
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje gestures during the confirmation hearing by the Commission on Appointments at the Senate, Pasay City on Tuesday. NINO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER
MANILA, Philippines—Environment Secretary Ramon Paje’s confirmation by the Commission on Appointments remained uncertain after he failed to get the nod of the commission on Tuesday.
The CA’s committee on environment and natural resources headed by Senator Loren Legarda suspended its hearing and decided to resume next week amid oppositions and questions raised against Paje.
Paje was optimistic though that he would eventually get the CA’s nod next week.
“Siguro naman, siguro,” he told reporters after the hearing.
Legarda shared Paje’s optimism.
“I think so,” said the senator when asked about Paje’s chance of confirmation next week.
“I think he’s willing and able to answer all issues to be raised,” Legarda said but quick to say it was not for her to say whether Paje would be confirmed.
Asked if there was no pressure from Malacañang to recommend Paje’s confirmation, the senator said: “I’m doing my part as chairman and Malacañang does not have to ask me to do my work. I’m performing my task. The President or anyone from Malacañang has not called me because they know I’m doing my job anyway.”
Besides, Legarda reiterated that she was almost certain that Paje would be able to answer all questions that would be raised in the hearing.
“Hopefully, he would be confirmed next week. If not then we can schedule a hearing in July upon resumption,” she added.
Senator Serge Osmeña III, meanwhile, admitted that he was not satisfied with how Paje’s responded to the issues raised at him.
“No. I’m not satisfied,” Osmeña said in a separate interview after the hearing. “I have so many questions just based on what he said [earlier].”
Asked about Paje’s chance of finally getting the CA’s nod next week, the senator said: “I don’t know. It depends on how responsive he is to the questions.”
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