Bicam panel recommends confirmation of Puno, Melo

MANILA, Philippines - The bicameral committee of the Commission on Appointments on Tuesday recommended the confirmation of Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Commission on Elections chairman Jose Melo. Puno was confirmed despite the objections of former Bulacan Gov. Josie dela Cruz and Darwin Recy, an engineer. Dela Cruz had accused Puno of being involved in a P1-billion "counter-insurgency fund" released by President Arroyo at the height of the threat in the presidency. "That is very material in the proper judgment of the Secretary that you would like to confirm," dela Cruz told the CA panel. Asked to comment, Puno said "there is no such fund released. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who voted for Puno's confirmation, cited the DILG chief's policy of non-interference in the National Police even during his first stint as secretary of the department in 1999, when the senator was then the chief PNP. "I can vouch based on my personal experience that during my time, the Secretary never interfered in any of the appointments of the PNP," Lacson said. - GMANews.TV