CA defers Comelec exec’s confirmation pending disclosure of husband’s business info 

MANILA, Philippines — The confirmation of Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio’s nomination as Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner has been put on hold at the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday pending the submission of documents pertaining to her husband’s family business.

This, after Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon motioned to suspend the CA questioning of Ferolino-Ampoloquio at the committee level until the latter can submit necessary documents, specifically on her husband’s rice and cornmeal family business.

“May we move that we be given an opportunity to continue our questioning in the next meeting of the committee after the nominee has submitted the documents which she mentioned will be the basis of her answers to my questions,” Drilon said in a motion to defer the hearing of the CA’s Committee on Constitutional Commissions and Offices on Wednesday.

Before this, Drilon had inquired about Ferolino-Ampoloquio’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

“We would like to know if the value of the assets of your husband’s family business is part of your property as a married couple was truly reflected in your SALN. That’s why we’re asking the question how much did you value your husband’s participation, not in the profit but in the asset,” Drilon said.

“How much was the value of the asset of your husband in that family business which you included in your SALN and liabilities?” he asked.

The nominee told the CA panel that she would need to bring in documents to answer the senator’s question.

“Since I do not have personal involvement in the running of the business, I have no knowledge of the actual assets of the said business. I can get documents, I can submit to this honorable body,” she said.

Rodrigo Duterte nominated Ferolino-Ampoloquio as Comelec commissioner on Nov. 26.

Ferolino-Ampoloquio first joined Comelec as an emergency laborer in 1994 and became an election assistant for 12 years.

She was an election officer for a decade and became Davao del Norte’s provincial election supervisor before being nominated. Zac Sarao, INQUIRER.net trainee

Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio faces a panel of the Commission of Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, for her confirmation as Commission on Elections commissioner. Photo courtesy of Senate PRIB