CA body confirms DAR Secretary Castriciones

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Rualo Castriciones. INQUIRER.net PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

Agrarian Reform Secretary John Rualo Castriciones was finally confirmed on Tuesday by a panel of the powerful Commission on Appointments.

Senator Grace Poe, who presided over the CA’s committee on agrarian reform, said the decision was reached in an executive session.

Poe said a secret voting was made and 13 members of the panel voted to approve Castriciones’ nomination and only two objected it.

“Na-confirmed na sya  kasi 13 yung bomoto sa kanya, 2 ang nag-object,”  she told reporters.

Poe said she would report the panel’s recommendation to  the CA plenary  on Wednesday.

When she endorses the recommendation on the floor,  the senator said  she would remind Castriciones to address the  concerns raised by oppositors during his confirmation hearing.

“Ipapalala ko siguro sa aking sponsorship speech,  bagamat nanaig at nanalo sya at na confirmed sya, e marami syang dapat isaayos at dapat siguro ay huwag din na maging vindictive  syempre dun sa mga nag opposed sa kanya,” Poe said.

“Hindi ko naman sinasabing magiging ganun sya pero lehitimo naman yung mga concerns nila,”  she added.  /muf