President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has submitted to the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA), for confirmation, the ad interim appointment of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., CA Assistant Minority Leader and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said.
“Secretary (Tiu) Laurel and Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa are on top of the new batch of 57 presidential appointees – mostly foreign service officers – awaiting their confirmation hearings,” Pimentel said.
The 25-member CA is empowered by the Constitution to vet the competence, fitness, and integrity of key presidential appointees, including Cabinet members, and to approve or disapprove them.
“We would urge the public to submit to the CA Secretariat any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions to the appointees.”
“We would urge the public to submit to the CA Secretariat any information, written report, or sworn/notarized complaints or oppositions to the appointees,” the veteran legislator said.
The seasoned lawmaker’s remarks came a day after fisherfolk grouped under the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) challenged Tiu Laurel to withdraw the Frabelle Group of Companies’ 944-hectare reclamation project in Bacoor Bay, a large inlet of southeastern Manila Bay.
Frabelle is carrying out the massive reclamation project in joint venture with the Bacoor City government and Diamond Export Corp.
“We only have a few session days left before Congress goes on recess for the Christmas holidays.”
Pimentel said he expects the CA committees concerned to schedule their respective confirmation hearings soon, “considering that we only have a few session days left before Congress goes on recess for the Christmas holidays.”
Congress is set to adjourn for the holidays on Dec. 16 and will not resume session until Jan. 22, 2024.
Under CA rules, officials that fail to obtain the commission’s consent by the time Congress adjourns will have to be reappointed by Malacañang.
Tiu Laurel ran the family-owned Frabelle Group of Companies before he was appointed by the President to head the Department of Agriculture on Nov. 5.
The Frabelle Group of Companies holds diversified business through Frabelle Fishing Corp., Frabelle Cold Storage Corp., Westpac Meat Processing Corp., Eoana Canning and Food Processing Corp., Frabelle Shipyard Corp., and Frabelle Properties Corp.
Besides Tiu Laurel and Herbosa, Pimentel said 55 newly appointed officers at the Department of Foreign Affairs are pending confirmation.
The foreign service officers awaiting their confirmation hearings are:
For promotion to Career Minister:
· Lorena Joy Banagodos
· Joselito Chad Jacinto Jr.
· John Reyes
For promotion to Chief of Mission, Class I
· Maria Teresa Almojuela
· Bernadette Therese Fernandez
For promotion to Chief of Mission, Class II
· Robert Ferrer Jr.
· Kristine Leilani Salle
For promotion to Foreign Service Officer, Class I
· Darell Ann Artates
· Theodore Andrei Bauzon
· Janina Lourdes Bustos-Borromeo
· Candy Cypres-Bauzon
· Nicole Therese De Castro
· Alexander Joseph Estomo
· Alan Roi Gabriola
· Ma. Charmaine Guevara
· Alvin Malasig
· Shirley Nuevo
· Anne Kristine Salvador
For promotion to Foreign Service Officer, Class II
· Stacy Danika Alcantara-Garcia
· Thomas Philip Aquino
· Jaybee Arguillas
· Manuel Ayap
· Jhullie Anne Beniahan
· Sheila Mae Briones
· Bojer Capati
· Iris Vanessa Caranzo
· Venince Allen Carillo
· Edward Chan
· Charles Lawrence Ching
· Joan Macrise Corrado
· Emmylou Felimer
· Aprilfleur Galima-Mejia
· Mina Angeles Ganzon
· Alfred Kristoffer Guiang
· Maria Christina Cecelia Hernandez
· Mark Hanzel Lao
· Mark Dominic Lim
· Marco Angelo Lopez
· Al-bari Macalawan
· Beatriz Alexandra Martinez
· Patricia Milla
· Ma. Claribel Ochoa
· Jose Santiago Olaguera
· Angeli Payumo
· Jake Robin Ramintas
· Tanya Faye Ramiro
· Barbie Jane Rosales
· Jomar Sadie
· Janice Sanchez-Rivera
· John Boitte Santos
· Pat Lester Solosa
· Feamor Vyn Tiosen
· Marivil Valles
· Johaira Wahab-Manantan
· Paolo Zurita
