CA adopts new rules ahead of Lopez, Yasay confirmation hearings

Foreign Affairs Sec. Perfecto Yasay and Environment Sec. Gina Lopez. INQUIRER AND AFP FILE PHOTOS

A day before the confirmation hearings of two controversial Cabinet members, the Commission on Appointments (CA) adopted on Tuesday news rules that would allow “secret voting” in executive session.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the new rules will take effect on Wednesday, in time for the scheduled confirmation hearings of Environment Secretary Regina “Gina” Lopez, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.

A number of sworn oppositions to Lopez’s appointment have been submitted to the CA while Yasay’s confirmation has been derailed because of questions about his citizenship.

READ: 23 sworn oppositions to Lopez’ appointment lodged at CA | Yasay likened to Lascañas, Matobato

Sotto said the “secret balloting” would allow the CA members to vote based on their conscience.

“Kasi mas mae-exercise ng member ng CA ‘yung kanyang conscience vote, ‘yung kanyang option instead na nag sa-succumb sa lobbying, nagsa-succumb sa mga pressures. Ito hindi, sarili n’yo talaga, sarili n’yong decision kung dapat i-confirm o i-reject ang isang nominee,” he told reporters before the approval of the rules.

(That way, a CA member would be able exercise his conscience vote; that option becomes available to him instead of just succumbing to lobbying or pressures. This way, he is free to make his own decision whether to confirm or reject a nominee.)

“Hindi tulad ng dati. Alam mo minsan napipilitan…sa tagal ko sa CA, nararamdaman ko na ‘yung nararamdaman ng iba e (Unlike before, others would just be coerced. I have been part of the CA for a long time already; I can feel what the others are feeling),” the senator said.

Sotto though pointed out that what transpired in an executive session could still be disclosed to the public if two-thirds of its members decide so.

Aside from secret voting, Sotto said, the CA also adopted a three-bypass rule where the body would have to decide either to reject or approve a nominee whose confirmation has already been bypassed three times.

“A deferment is not a bypass. Ang bypass, hindi inaksyunan on three occasions, congressional sessions (A bypass happens when the nomination is not acted on in three occasions, congressional sessions),” he said.

“Once you’re rejected, you can never be reappointed by the president,” he further explained.

Asked if the decision to adopt the new rules had something to do with the fact that many of the Cabinet officials now are controversial, Sotto answered “yes and no.”

“Yes because may mga ganun (controversial) pero it’s been the experience of the CA na especially in the last administration, and I’m not confining it to the last administration, it’s happening in the past administrations. Ang naba-bypass, renew lang nang renew,” he said.

(Yes, because there are indeed controversial appointees, but it’s already been experienced by the CA, especially in the last administration—[though] I’m not confining it to the last administration, that those who are bypassed would just renew their applications.)

Sotto said during the last administration, for instance, at least two or three Cabinet members were bypassed and reappointed 20 times. IDL/rga

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