Unconfirmed Cabinet picks tackled November

MANILA, Philippines — The confirmation of the appointments of Interior Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr. and acting Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque will have to wait until November, but there should be no problems with their ad interim appointments, a House leader said on Sunday.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, assistant minority leader of the Commission on Appointments (CA), said that the congressional CA “won’t be able to tackle [their] appointment for now because Congress is adjourned. We are not in session.”

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Congress adjourned on Sept. 27 and won’t resume sessions until Nov. 4.

But “ad interim appointments have immediate effect. Thus, individuals with ad interim appointments may immediately enter upon the discharge of their functions,” Pimentel said.

Such appointments only cease to be valid if they are disapproved by the CA or, if not confirmed, until the next adjournment of Congress. —Jeannette Andrade