3 Cabinet members confirmed; Piñol not as lucky

The ad interim appointments of three Cabinet members received the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday.

Appointed a day before Congress goes on its Christmas break were Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

Also confirmed was Teodoro Locsin Jr. as the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations, as well as 21 officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

But the committee on agriculture deferred action on the confirmation of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol upon the motion of Occidental Mindoro Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato.

Sato said she wanted the agriculture secretary to expound more on the policies pertaining to the lifting of qualitative restrictions on rice in June next year. She also wanted the former Cotabato governor to explain the transfer of four agencies now with the Office of the President to the Department of Agriculture.

The committee suspended its hearing of Piñol’s appointment until it returns from its holiday break next year.

Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon said that since Piñol’s appointment was bypassed by the committee, he has to get his new appointment papers from President Duterte.