NEWLY-DESIGNATED Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. leads the list of 48 presidential appointees awaiting the consent of the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) after Congress resumes session today.

“We have 48 new appointees pending confirmation as of October 30,” Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, CA assistant minority leader, said in a statement yesterday.

Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque and Civil Service Commission chairperson Marilyn Barua-Yap are among those waiting for their confirmation hearings, according to Pimentel.

“There are 45 newly-promoted military generals and career diplomats pending confirmation,” Pimentel added.

The rank promotions of senior military officers and foreign service officers both require the consent of the CA, along with the new postings of ambassadors.

CA records show that the batch of 15 generals pending confirmation is headed by Maj. Gen. Jimmy Larida of the Philippine Marines, who has been promoted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the rank of lieutenant general, or three stars.

Meanwhile, the group of 30 Department of Foreign Affairs executives awaiting confirmation is headed by Emmanuel Fernandez, the new Philippine ambassador to Pakistan, with concurrent jurisdiction over Afghanistan.

Pimentel urged the public to submit any information or complaints against the appointees pending confirmation to the CA secretariat.

Under the Constitution, the 25-member CA is empowered to vet the competence, fitness, and integrity of key presidential appointees and to approve or reject them.

The CA is composed of 12 members each from the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the Senate President serving as ex-officio presiding officer.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco