Fears of Commission on appointments members. Fear reprisals by NPA rebels: Lacson. NDF nominees for cabinet to be confirmed.

Fears are justified.

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It is a hazard connected with the responsibility; members of the Commission of Appointments (CA) are a worried lot. The problem is that they are molding the destiny of some of the most powerful people in the Philippines.

Moreover, these subjects are the most powerful entities in the country. They come with the popular support of the public and the powers that only a politician possesses

Consequently, it comes as no surprise that some members of the Commission on Appointments (CA) fear for their safety. As such, they are very cautious when rejecting a candidate.

Now, they are up against a dilemma and really worried for their personal safety and have expressed the same. The matter concerns the confirmation of Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano and Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.

Senator Panfilo Lacson disclosed this after some of the members of the CA expressed their safety related concerns.

The candidates

President Duterte, in pursuance of his efforts to attain peace with the communists, had ordered the appointments of these two. The administration ordered the appointments to create a favorable environment for striking a deal with the reds.

In fact, the appointments awaiting confirmation from the Commission on Appointments includes another Cabinet member, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial.

The following candidates are yet to have their posts confirmed by the CA:

1. Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano; hje was the elected to the House of Representative for nearly 10 years up to 2013. He is the chairman of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) which is a farmers’ militant group

When President Duterte took over the President’s post, Mariano assumed office as Secretary, Department of Agrarian Reforms.

2. Dr. Judy Marigomen Taguiwalo, PhD is a Filipina communist activist, educator holding the post of Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development.

A former Professor, she took over when the NDF nominated her as Secretary in President Rodrigo Duterte’s cabinet. She was instrumental in helping set up Malayang Kilusan ng Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA), a militant group in 1970.
She was in detention during the EDSA revolution and wasa distinguished educationist. She was the Founding National President of All UP Academic Employee Union and a founder of All-UP Workers’ Alliance.

3. Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial, MD is a physician who heads the Department of Health as Secretary. She served in the previous two administration from;

a. From 2006 to 2008 as Regional Director for davao, and
b. As Assistant Secretary for Health Regulations from 2008 until 2016.

She is a staunch anti-tobacco advocate and served as a rural health worker in North Cotabato and Kidpawan in 1990.

It is not hard to see why the members of the CA are afraid of rejecting the appointments of the first two. Due to their proximity to the New People’s Army (NPA), they fear death at the hands of the rebels. Lacson revealed this in an interview on dzBB on Sunday.

Thus, it was in the interest of their personal safety that the members of the Commission on Appointments (CA) amended their procedures. The 24-member commission adopted secret balloting as a means of maintaining secrecy about their voting pattern.

This practice started when they turned down, two months ago, the appointment of Perfecto Yasay Jr. as Foreign Secretary.

The problem arose since many of them hailed from communist dominated areas. Therefore, it is a situation where they cannot openly reject these candidates.

According to the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines, the approval of the Commission on Appointments is mandatory.
Hence, at least 13 members of the CA should vote in favor for the confirmation of the appointment, Lacson clarified.

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Umrao Singh
umraoz.wordpress.com
Written for: Lars-Magnus Carlsson.
www.thephilippinepride.com
Monday, May 08, 2017

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