Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Roxas survives Miriam's threat, gets CA nod

Outgoing Transportation Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas survived Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago's threat after he successfully gets the approval of the Commission on Appointments (CA) as the new Interior secretary.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile approved the confirmation after Santiago withdrew her motion invoking a one-person veto power on Roxas' nomination for snubbing her hearing last week.

"My high intelligence quotient dictates that I should reconsider and therefore withdraw my motion to suspend approval on the nomination (of Roxas)," Santiago said.

Santiago issued the statement after Senator Tito Sotto appealed for her not to invoke Section 20 of CA's Rules, which states any member can suspend consideration of any nomination.

Earlier, Santiago said she was deeply insulted by Malacañang's action ordering its cabinet members to collectively snub a hearing evaluating ex-Interior undersecretary Rico Puno's performance. Santiago chairs the panel that evaluated Puno on his alleged involvement in jueteng and P1-billion arms deal in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

"I now want to stand by the principle that the executive branch of the government cannot effectively prevent the legislative branch from holding an inquiry in aid of legislation, the constitutionally-protected power, simply by agreeing among themselves that theu will not show up," she said.

Santiago expressed resentment that "a certain person cannot be investigated on the mere say so of Malacanang."

The senator also earlier moved to veto the nomination of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

For his part, Roxas clarified he did not intend to skip the legislative process when he failed to show up at Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments' hearing last week.

Santiago chairs the panel that evaluated former DILG Undersecretary Rico Puno's performance including his alleged involvement in jueteng and  P1-billion arms deal in Philippine National Police (PNP).

"I wish to clarify that my non-appearance was in no way to snub, degrade, demean or diminish the importance of Senate hearing.... I uphold the Senate and its processes with utmost understanding," Roxas said.

Roxas emphasized he lacked authority to talk about Puno's performance in DILG considering he has yet to officially assume post, lacking sufficient knowledge about the department's internal matters.

Earlier, Santiago expressed belief that Roxas "more than qualified in terms of honesty, competence, and efficiency" to lead the DILG.

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