CA panel resets confirmation hearing for Comelec, COA, CSC execs

The Commission on Elections logo superimposed on the picture of its headquarters in Manila. INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — A committee of the Commission on Appointments (CA) has decided to reset for next week its deliberations on the ad interim appointments of top Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials as well as the chairpersons of the Commission on Audit (COA), and the Civil Service Commission.

During a confirmation hearing of the CA Committee Committee on Constitutional Commissions and Offices on Wednesday, Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Gavini Pancho raised the letters earlier submitted by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senator Panfilo Lacson requesting that the panel meeting be postponed to a later date.

“The inability of our other members to attend today’s hearing is principally due to their performance of a constitutionally mandated duty as part of the National Board of Canvassers for the president and vice presidential elections,” Pancho said.

According to Pancho, committee vice chairman Rep. Ronaldo Zamora also said the House contingent agreed that another date should be set to deliberate the pending appointments before the said CA panel.

Hearing no objection, committee chairperson Senator Cynthia Villar approved Pancho’s motion.

The CA committee was scheduled to deliberate on the ad interim appointments of Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan and Commissioners George Garcia and Aimee Torrefranca-Neri.

COA Chairperson Rizalina Justol, who already made her opening statement during Wednesday’s hearing, is also up for confirmation.

The CA committee was also supposed to tackle the ad interim appointment of Civil Service Commission Chairman Karlo Nograles.

/MUF