MANILA, Philippines -- A senior lawmaker and member of the Commission on Appointments on Friday took exception to Senator Maria Ana Consuelo ?Jamby? Madrigal?s allegations that the House contingent to the bicameral body was a mafia that may be bribed to support nominations.

Agusan del Sur Representative Rodolfo Plaza, a member of the House minority, said Madrigal may be playing dumb or actually is.

?That accusation is very irresponsible. Either she is just playing dumb so that she can have an excuse to pick a fight with the other members of the Commission on Appointments and get media attention,? said Plaza.

?Otherwise, she simply lacks the comprehension to understand what went on last Wednesday which is understandable for slow learners,? he added.

Plaza said he was dismayed by Madrigal?s allegations aired over radio that the House contingent to the CA is acting like a mafia and its support for officials? confirmations are ?on a pay-per-promotion? basis.

?Her mouth works faster than her brain. Before making such accusations, she should make sure that she has evidence to prove her claims,? Plaza said.

On Wednesday, Madrigal blocked the confirmation of the 24 military officers by invoking Section 20 of the CA rules which allow a CA member to move for the suspension of the CA?s action on any appointment.

To prevent what they called a ?dastardly? and ?abusive? invocation of this power, senators on Friday moved to amend Sec. 20 of the CA rules.

?Although this is a check and balance provision that must continue to operate, I believe that it is subject to abuse as can be gleaned with what happened last Wednesday. There is a need to modify this rule to ensure that injustice is not committed on those officers who have been judged to be morally fit for promotion,? said Senator Rodolfo Biazon in a statement.

Senator Richard Gordon said that Section 20 was rarely used and must be used wisely and in good faith.

?It is a weapon against capricious and arbitrary behavior of the Executive or the majority. When we use this weapon, it behooves the individual who wields this weapon to explain to everyone why it is being used. What we are seeing here is a dastardly Section 20,? Gordon said in a statement.

Madrigal invoked Section 20 in retaliation for what she claimed was the ?railroading? of the promotion Brigadier General Nestor Sadiarin in a previous CA hearing.
Madrigal had opposed the promotion of Sadiarin whom she blamed for carrying out a pre-election survey in the military on Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in 2007. Norman Bordadora