12 secretaries, 2 commissioners bypassed by CA —Zubiri

Twelve Cabinet secretaries and two commissioners would need to seek President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s reappointment after being bypassed by the Commission on Appointments (CA), Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

According to the list provided by Zubiri, among those whose ad interim appointments were bypassed are:

-Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles
-Energy Secretary Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla
-Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno
-Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar
-Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Enrile Uy
-Migrant Workers Secretary Maria Susana Ople
-Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan
-Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.
-Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo
-Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual
-Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista
-National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan
-Commission on Audit Chairman Jose Calida

The nomination of Nelson Java Celis as commissioner of the Commission on Elections was likewise bypassed.

Zubiri's list includes the appointment of Victor Rodriguez as Executive Secretary but it can be recalled that he has already resigned from the post.

"All the Secretaries, not just Sec. Tulfo and Sec. Bonoan who have not been confirmed, will have to seek a reappointment by the President as they would all be considered bypassed," Zubiri said in a Viber message to reporters.

Tulfo and Bonoan's appointments were supposed to be tackled by the CA on Wednesday but it was deferred due to time constraints.

"There was a lack of material time. Minus two secretaries na kanina at natapos na kami sa CA plenary at 5pm which ate into our Senate session at 3 p.m. If we pursued Sec. Tulfo and Bonoan, we would have finished at 7 p.m. and would have started the Senate session at 7:30 pa. Hindi pwede yan as we had to ratify two important bicam reports na magiging batas na. We cannot also sacrifice our work in the Senate," Zubiri said.

According to the CA website, an ad interim appointment ceases to be valid upon disapproval by the Commission on Appointments or, if not confirmed, until the next adjournment of Congress.

Both Houses of Congress are set to adjourn on October 1. The last day of the plenary session is usually set on the last Wednesday before the scheduled adjournment.

In the case of nominations, the Constitution says that the nominees should be given the CA's consent first then the President issues the appointment. The nominee can take his oath after he accepts the nomination.—LDF, GMA News