SENATE President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri, chairperson of the Commission on Appointments (CA), led the way in confirming and approving the ad interim appointments of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin as the executive secretary of the Office of the President and former Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Estoista Diokno as the secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF) Wednesday, November 23, 2022.

Zubiri said Bersamin has the full support of the legislative branch and that he looks forward to the six-year term of the former chief justice.

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda who pushed for the speedy approval of the ad interim appointment of Bersamin as Executive Secretary.

said Bersamin has her “complete and unequivocal support” because of his experience and character.

“With all the problems in the country that the Executive Secretary, known as the Little President, has to handle, having been the Chief Justice of our land with such esteemed vision and character, there is no need to delay, nothing to investigate with Chief Justice Bersamin as Executive Secretary,” Legarda said.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin took his oath Wednesday, November 23, 2022 during the Commission on Appointments’ Committee on Executive Secretary and Presidential Communications Offices of the Office of the President, and the Philippine Space Agency Committee meeting on his appointment as executive secretary.

Bersamin was chairperson of the Government Service Insurance System before he was appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to the post.

Sen. Francis Tolentino expressed his support for the appointment of Bersamin.

According to Tolentino, before becoming a lawyer, Bersamin went to the seminary in Abra and would have been a priest.

But even if he did not become a priest, Tolentino said, the nominee has indicated his desire to be a healing justice.

“I would just like to express my full support to the confirmation of Chief Justice Lucas Purugganan Bersamin as executive secretary,” Tolentino said.

Zubiri also expressed his full support for Diokno, recounting how he had the quickest appointment in recent CA history, with the CA body approving his appointment after a 5-minute deliberation as DBM Secretary in 2016.

“His (Diokno) leadership is unquestionable in steering the ship of state in these very troubled financial times. The DOF for me is in great hands under the stewardship of this fine patriot and gentleman. Thank you for your continued service to our country,” Zubiri said.

Sen. Grace Poe also expressed her gratitude to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for appointing somebody like Sec. Benjamin Diokno to the Department of Finance (DOF) who truly understands the needs of the Filipino people.

Poe recognized the contributions made by Diokno in the passage of various economic legislations such as the amendment to the Anti-money Laundering Act, Financial Institutions Strategic

Transfer (FIST) Act and the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act.

“I would like to say that we are very grateful to have the President appoint somebody in the DOF that truly understands the needs of our countrymen not just as an academician, but as a proven effective practitioner,” Poe added.

Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada conveyed his support for the appointment of Sec. Diokno.

Estrada said he knows the nominee personally having served under the administration of his father, former President Joseph Estrada.

“I think he is one of the best Cabinet secretaries under the administration of my father,” he said.

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go appealer to Sec. Benjamin Diokno to make sure that every centavo of taxpayers’ money will be returned to them by providing better services.

Go expressed his full support for the appointment of Diokno.

“Sec. Diokno is not only known for his proficiency in economics and tax reform but more importantly for his integrity and competence. With his skills, competence and experience, I believe that Sec. Diokno is the best person for this position,” Go said.

Diokno was DBM secretary from 2016 to 2019 under President Rodrigo Duterte and from 1998 to 2001under President Joseph Estrada. He was also a former governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said business leaders from all federations supported the appointment of Diokno as the secretary of Finance.