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MANILA, Philippines – Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago plans to make good on her threat to veto the confirmation of incoming Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.
Santiago wrote Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III of the Commission on Appointments to formally notify him of her intention to veto Roxas’ confirmation. The Commission is set to tackle Roxas’ confirmation on Wednesday, September 19.
Sotto is the chairperson of the CA’s Committee on Interior and Local Government.
“I consider Secretary Roxas, against whom I have nothing personal, as more than qualified in honesty, competence and efficiency. However, I have announced that I shall oppose the confirmation of any cabinet member whom I invited to the Rico Puno hearing … but who all declined to appear,” Santiago wrote.
Santiago was referring to the Senate hearing on resigned Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno last Friday, September 14. Roxas snubbed the hearing along with other Cabinet members, with Malacañang saying that Santiago should have first sent a list of questions, and issued a resolution on her investigation.
The senator wrote in her letter, “I wish to stand by the principles of checks and balances between the executive and the legislative branches of government. This applies to all the cabinet members concerned.”
Roxas said he respects Santiago’s right to reject his confimation.
Aside from Roxas, also absent from the probe were Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa Jr, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje. De Lima and Paje have yet to be confirmed.
President Benigno Aquino III has defended the absence of his alter egos, saying Santiago should have followed the proper procedure in her probe. He also expressed confidence that Roxas’ confirmation will not be affected by the snub.
Administration ally Senator Franklin Drilon said if Santiago will insist on vetoing Roxas, the President can appoint the Secretary on an ad interim basis before Congress adjourns to allow him to assume the post even without confirmation.
‘Miriam’s accountability’
Sotto and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile have said that it is Santiago’s prerogative to veto Roxas’ confirmation.
“We can’t do something about it. It depends on the particular member of the CA …. I cannot do anything but as far as I’m concerned, I am going to do my job. I’ll conduct a hearing,” Sotto told reporters on Monday, September 17.
The Senate Majority Leader however said it is up to Santiago to consider her “accountability to the people.”
“Kung kailangan natin agad ang isang nominee na aksyunan na, baka mag-suffer ang kanyang departamento ay kailangang aksyunan agad. Kung hindi, we can’t do anything about it. Ikaw naman ang mananagot sa tao na naghalal sa iyo,” Sotto said. (If we need the nominee immediately and his department may suffer, we need to act promptly. If not, we can’t do anything about it. You will be accountable to the people who elected you.)
Enrile said he will try to talk to Santiago to change her mind about Roxas. He said she can oppose his confirmation “but only after a certain point because others can push the issue.”
Enrile and Drilon have said that Roxas will breeze through the Commission on Appointments after Aquino urged the body to fast-track his confirmation.
Roxas was appointed to the post following the death of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo. Robredo died in a plane crash last August 18 without being confirmed. – Rappler.com
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