Madrigal on warpath anew
By Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:14:00 05/21/2008
Filed Under: Politics, Government
MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Ana Consuelo “Jamby” Madrigal has threatened to single-handedly block the confirmation of government officials facing the Commission on Appointments.
The bicameral CA is set to hold its plenary session in the coming days, with Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya among those whose appointments are up for confirmation.
In a letter to Senate President Manuel Villar dated May 19, Madrigal said she would not attend the committee hearings being conducted by a committee that is constitutionally infirm in composition and representation.
She insisted that the CA should first resolve her complaint about its composition.
Madrigal claimed the CA did not follow the rules on allocating seats according to party affiliation, which other senators who sit in the CA have denied.
“Without any such resolution, I shall be forced to invoke Section 20 of the CA Rules against each and every official whose confirmation is submitted to the body for deliberation,” she warned Villar.
She previously earned the ire of her CA colleagues when she blocked the confirmation of 27 military generals and colonels by invoking Section 20 of the CA rules.
As Section 20 allows a CA member to block an official’s confirmation without giving any reason, it is rarely invoked, much less invoked wholesale.
Madrigal invoked Section 20 after the CA confirmed the promotion of Armed Forces Civil Relations Service chief, Brigadier General Nestor Sadiarin. With a report from Marilyn Baduria, INQUIRER.net contributor
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