Sen Estrada stalls Mercado’s appointment
‘Edsa 2 betrayal’ still fresh in his mind
By Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:14:00 10/08/2008
Filed Under: Government, Politics, Foreign affairs & international relations
MANILA, Philippines -- Senator Jose ‘Jinggoy’ Estrada blocked on Wednesday the confirmation of Orlando Mercado’s appointment as ambassador to China, saying his credentials should be reviewed in the light of his allegedly poor performance as defense secretary during the Estrada administration.
Estrada also indicated that he has not forgotten Mercado’s defection to the ranks of the political forces that ousted his father, then president Joseph Estrada, in a bloodless revolt called Edsa 2 in 2001.
On the request of Senator Estrada, the Commission on Appointments did not act on the nomination of Mercado, himself a former senator, as ambassador to China on Wednesday, the last session of Congress before it takes a month-long break.
The CA, however, confirmed the appointment of 66 senior military officers and 12 new ambassadors, including former Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Generoso Senga, who is now the ambassador to Iran.
Mercado was a no-show at Wednesday’s commission hearing.
Saying he had “concerns,” Estrada said he had asked Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chair of the Senate foreign relations committee, to exclude Mercado from the list of nominees for new ambassadors that would be deliberated at the CA hearing.
“I need more time to study his credentials. I will have to study further his credentials if he is really qualified for that position,” said Estrada, explaining why he was blocking the appointment of Mercado.
The senator underscored the need to be careful in considering Mercado for his new posting, saying Mercado did not perform well in his former job as defense secretary.
Mercado was among the first of the elder Estrada’s Cabinet officials who defected to the side of the people power revolt in 2001.
Estrada insisted there was “nothing personal” in his actions against Mercado.
He disclosed that he and his father bumped into Mercado during the 92nd Senate anniversary celebration on Tuesday night. “Former senator Mercado approached my father and me to ask for a favor—if I could support him. I told him I will first have to study his credentials,” Estrada said.
Asked what his father had to say on Mercado’s request for support, he said: “As usual, pusong mamon (he is soft hearted). The Erap trait of being very giving and forgiving.”
His father, he said, talked to him and told him “why don’t you support the confirmation of Senator Mercado.” But he said he insisted on studying his qualifications first.
Asked whether his father and Mercado had patched up things, Estrada said: “Remember in 2001 when he (Mercado) betrayed us? My father still got him as a candidate for senator.”
Estrada said Mercado’s appointment was deemed bypassed. “When you’re not included, you’re bypassed.”
But Santiago said Mercado was just “temporarily excluded,” adding that the young Estrada had withdrawn his objection.
“Senator Estrada has changed his mind. He’s no longer opposing the nomination so we will take up (Mercado’s nomination) in the next committee hearing after the recess,” Santiago told reporters.
Senga got the CA nod to head the foreign office in Iran “with concurrent jurisdiction over Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.”
The other new ambassadors were Rora Tolentino (France); Rey Carandang (Argentina); Elizabeth Buensuceso (Norway), Pedro Chan (Turkey); Alejandrino Vicente (Libya), Marilyn Alarikka (Laos), Jocelyn Garcia (Venezuela), Gilberto Asuque (Lebanon), Theresa Lazaro (Switzerland), Domingo Lucinario Jr., (Kenya) and Regina Irene Sarmiento (Czech Republic).
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