Soliman: No to catfight with Santiago

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–“Please do not pit Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and me against each other.”

Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman on Monday made the appeal to the public and the media after the Commission on Appointments (CA) committee on labor and employment and social welfare approved her appointment despite Santiago’s very vocal opposition.

Soliman will face the CA plenary on June 11 for final confirmation.

Santiago, who has opposed Soliman’s confirmation for four years, said she would attend Wednesday’s hearing even if she was on “extended medical leave” in order to block Soliman’s appointment.

But committee chair Rep. Conrado Estrella III of the Abono party-list group said Santiago could no longer invoke Section 20 of the CA Rules to block Soliman’s confirmation since it would be the last CA session before Congress adjourns.

In her letter to Senate President and CA chair Franklin Drilon, Santiago decried being deprived of her veto, saying the move by Liberal Party leaders “is undubitably unethical and reeks of trapo [traditional politician] politics.”

Despite Santiago’s tirades against her, Soliman refused to speak against the senator.

“I have nothing ill to say about Senator Santiago. I respect and recognize her right to perform her fiscalizing role,” Soliman said.

Santiago has opposed Soliman’s appointment, citing her “convenient” shift of loyalty from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to President Aquino.–Cynthia D. Balana