CA panel defers approval of DFA chief Manalo’s ad interim appointment

MANILA, Philippines — A panel of the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday deferred the approval of the ad interim appointment of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.

During the CA foreign affairs committee’s meeting, Majority Floor Leader Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Ray Villafuerte motioned to have the hearing suspended because of lack of time.

He reasoned that the CA still has to convene its plenary session in the afternoon, and the panel members have yet to finish their interpellation to Manalo.

“Considering that we have to convene the plenary session, we have to go through an executive session, due to a lack of material time, I move to suspend deliberation and consideration,” the lawmaker said.

The motion was later on accepted and the meeting will be continued on “another day,” CA foreign affairs panel chairperson Jinggoy Estrada said.

However, before the panel could approve the motion, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri first manifested a call to Cabinet members to attend legislative hearings.

In particular, he noted how the Senate committee of foreign affairs has not yet held its organizational meeting since Manalo could not confirm his attendance.

“I would like to reiterate the importance of being able to attend the committee hearing of the foreign affairs. We will stress [this] to all our colleagues in the Executive, particularly the Cabinet members,” Zubiri said.

“We’ve already been done with all other organizational meetings, I believe from housing to transportation to defense, to energy, kayo na lang ang kulang. I know you said you’re busy but we’re also very busy and we’re a co-equal branch of government. Remember that,” he added.

This manifestation, he said, is a “warning” to all department secretaries to attend the hearings of Congress.

“It’s very important and strategic in terms of budgets and programs and proposals of your departments,” the Senate President said.

On Wednesday, the CA Committee on Foreign Affairs deliberated on Manalo’s ad interim appointment.

Manalo, a 43-year veteran, had represented Manila in the United Nations and key European missions.

Before being appointed Foreign Affairs Secretary, he served as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Manalo, 69, also briefly served as the acting DFA chief in 2017 after the late Perfecto Yasay Jr.’s ad-interim appointment was rejected by the CA.

Under the Arroyo presidency, he was the foreign undersecretary for policy. Manalo had also served as the country’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, and Luxembourg and as head of mission to the European Union.

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