Three key Marcos appointees clinch CA nod

Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman (left) and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo /SENATE PRIB PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines — Three key appointees of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. secured the nod of the congressional Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday.

The CA plenary confirmed the ad interim appointments of the following:

-Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo
-Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman
-Judicial and Bar Council member Nesauro Firme

The term of all the officials, except Firme, will be concurrent with Marcos’ term or until June 30, 2028.

Meanwhile, the tenure for Firme will end on July 9, 2026.

The nominations of the officials had already been debated in the CA’s committees on foreign affairs, justice and judiciary and bar council, and finance and management. The appointments of Manalo, Pangandaman, and Firme were then transmitted to the plenary for final approval.

The panels on public works and highways; and labor, employment, social welfare, and migrant workers were supposed to likewise deliberate on the ad-interim appointments of Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo and Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, respectively.

Unfortunately, time constraints meant that the debates could not be held.

EDV/KGA/abc