4 Cabinet members clinch appointments

The Commission on Appointments (CA) approved on Wednesday the ad interim appointments of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

The separate confirmation hearings of the four went smoothly but it was Dominguez who was quizzed the most, having to answer questions from senators for almost two hours.

The finance secretary was asked about several issues

with President Duterte’s programs, such as the value-added tax and other taxes, the status of the peso to the US dollar, and the president’s economic philosophy.

 ‘Just like before’

Asked how he felt after getting the CA’s nod, Dominguez replied: “Like it felt before.”

Dominguez served as agriculture secretary under the late  President Corazon Aquino.

Unlike last week’s hearing, Cusi this time was able to breeze through his confirmation with Sen. Panfilo Lacson who had posed many questions to him during that hearing, agreeing to his ad interim appointment.

Bello’s hearing also went without a hitch as Drilon threw his support immediately and he asked fellow lawmakers to do the same.

Andanar also had an easy time at his confirmation hearing.

He heads the Palace communication office.