CA panel backs approval of PH representative’s appointment to WTO

Despite oppositions, Ambassador Manuel Teehankee has been confirmed as the permanent representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland by a panel of the Commission on Appointments (CA).

The Geneva Forum for Philippine Concerns and Ugnayang Bayan, which are both based in Geneva — sent separate letters to the committee, opposing Teehankee’s appointment, citing a 2005 case against him involving his former employee.

But during the last hearing, Teehankee acknowledged his fault and said the case was already settled in October 2015.

Before the CA’s committee on foreign affairs decided on the nominee’s appointment on Wednesday, Senator Risa Hontiveros, an opposition member, requested for a brief executive session.

When the hearing resumed, Hontiveros manifested that she would have voted against Teehankee’s confirmation “in solidarity” with the issues raised by the Geneva Forum for Philippine Concerns against the nominee.

“Until this moment the oppositor, the Geneva Forum is not withdrawing its opposition and therefore at least in solidarity with the issues that they had raised, if the Commission had moved into secret balloting then I would be obliged to vote no with all due respect to the good ambassador,”  she said.

But the panel decided anyway to recommend Teehankee’s confirmation for plenary approval.            /kga