Palace dodges issues on Heidi Mendoza

Heidi Mendoza. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang on Wednesday declined to comment on why the appointment of Commission on Audit (CA) commissioner Heidi Mendoza has yet to be confirmed.

“I don’t think you need my comment on that. I think commissioner Heidi Mendoza has already spoken why she could not be confirmed,” Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a televised press briefing.

Mendoza on Tuesday “begged” the Commission on Appointments (CA) to confirm her appointment, saying her “only fault” was to file against someone with a presidential ambition. It was during that hearing that the case against Vice President Jejomar Binay’s wife was mentioned.

But Lacierda said Palace would continue to submit her and the other pending appointees’ names to Congress until they are confirmed. He also advised the appointees to continue to explain to the CA if they are required to do so.

The Secretary also lauded Mendoza for her work at COA.

“She has done a good job, together with [COA chair] Grace Tan,” he said, noting that Mendoza was among those who headed the Citizen’s Participatory Audit program which won a Bright Spots award at the Open Government Partnership summit in London last November.

Lacierda revealed that there are Cabinet members still waiting for their confirmation by the CA. Among them are Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

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