Commission on Appointments logo. INQUIRER.net/ Jerome Cristobal
MANILA, Philippines — The confirmation of the ad interim appointment of 115 senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been “delayed” and would have to wait for the 19th Congress.
This came after the committee hearing of the Commission on Appointments (CA) committee on national defense cancelled its scheduled hearing on Wednesday, June 1.
“In view of the withdrawal of the letter request to conduct a public hearing by chairperson, Rep. Luis “Jon-Jon” Ferrer IV, please be informed that the Committee Meeting scheduled on 01 June 2022… to deliberate on the one hundred fifteen (115) ad interim appointments of Senior Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has been cancelled,” an advisory sent to the committee vice chairpersons and members read.
A copy of the advisory is available on the CA website.
In a letter dated May 31 addressed to CA Secretary Atty. Hector Villacorta, Ferrer withdrew his request for a public hearing of the committee supposedly scheduled on June 1, Wednesday.
Ferrer is the chairman of the CA committee on national defense.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who chairs the CA, said that the confirmation of the AFP senior officials can still be taken up in the 19th Congress.
“Unlike the presidential nominees, they can be taken up in the next Congress CA,” Sotto said in a text message to INQUIRER.net on Thursday.
“In other words, delayed lang (it’s just delayed),” he added.
On Wednesday morning, the CA bypassed the confirmation of three top Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials who were appointed by outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, making way for President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong”Marcos Jr. to appoint officials for these positions.
READ: CA bypasses Duterte-appointed Comelec chair, 2 poll commissioners
Since the Comelec officials were presidential nominees, Sotto said they “cease to be in their posts unless they are reappointed.”
The Senate and the House of Representatives adjourned their final session for the 18th Congress on Wednesday afternoon, two days before the scheduled sine die adjournment on June 3.
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