The Constitution gives the President the power to nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, appoint the heads of the executive department, ambassadors, other public ministers, consuls, or officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain and other officials provided by law.
It’s clear in this provision that the intervention of the CA, a legislative body, in a primarily executive function is for the purpose of check and balance, an important feature in a democracy.
But like many of the democratic institutions that have been perverted by politicians, the CA has been reduced to an extortion gang with members willing to sell their votes in exchange for favors from the nominee and the nominating authority.
A current member of the CA confirms the earlier expose of former Rep. Herminio Teves of members of the CA asking for concessions in terms of appointments of relatives in the nominee’s department and projects in their areas. Some even talk of outright cash gifts.
Sen. Jamby Madrigal wrote Senate President Villar two weeks ago requesting that the present membership of the CA be re-organized to the strict requirement of the Constitution.
Madrigal’s request may have something to do with what transpired the past months which was highlighted by her invocation of Section 20 of the Senate rules to block the attempt of the majority of the CA, led by Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, to railroad the confirmation of military officers, many of whom failed to satisfactorily answer charges of violations of military rules and regulations. But she raises a valid point.
Section 18, Article VI of the Constitution provides that the CA shall be composed of “the President of the Senate as ex officio chairman, twelve senators, and twelve members of the House of Representatives, elected by each of the House on the basis of proportional representation from the political parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented therein.”
The current officers and members of the CA from the Senate are Senate President Manuel Villar (NP); Madrigal (PDP-Laban), Rodolfo Biazon (LP); Joker Arroyo (KAMPI); Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano (Lakas-CMD), Panfilo Lacson (UNO); Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada (PMP); Juan Ponce-Enrile (PMP); Loren Legarda (NPC); Richard Gordon (Lakas-CMD), Mar Roxas (LP); Lito Lapid (Lakas-CMD); Miriam Defensor-Santiago (PRP).
Madrigal noted PMP has two members (Ejercito and Enrile) when it is only entitled to one. KAMPI is not entitled to a CA membership because it has only member in the Senate but there’s Arroyo in the CA. Same thing with PRP who has only Santiago, who also sits in the CA.
Madrigal further said, “ If Senators Richard Gordon and Pia Cayetano are independents, then Sen. Gordon cannot be a member of the CA as Independents cannot be represented in the CA even though there are three Independents in the CA.”
Madrigal also scrutinized the House contingent in the CA composed of Eduardo Zialcita (Lakas-CMD); Rodolfo Plaza (NPC); Jose Yap (Lakas-CMD); Emmanuel Joel Villanueva (CIBAC); Rodolfo Albano III (KAMPI); Eileen Ermita-Buhain (Lakas-CMD); Conrado Estrella (NPC); Abdullah Dimaporo (Lakas-CMD), Eduardo Gullas (KAMPI); Jose Carlos Lacson (Lakas-CMD); and Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza (KAMPI).
Madrigal noted that Lakas-CMD should be entitled only to four yet it has five members in the CA. Same with KAMPI which has three members in the CA when it’s entitled only to two.
CIBAC is not qualified to have a representative in the CA because it has only two members in the House. Yet it’s representative, Joel Villanueva, is in the CA.
Let’s see if Villar, as chairman, will have the guts to rock the boat and revamp the CA according to the provisions of the Constitution.
The Commission on Appointment has become useless. Since the President has the power to appoint over and over again, it’s time to dissolve the CA. There are even cabinet members and staff in GMA’s government that were bypassed four to five times by CA but still managed to perform their work. The president can appoint them again when the Congress adjourns or there’s a break in both Chambers. This doesn’t make sense. These rejected cabinet members get to function until the President finishes her term. What’s the use of having a CA then?
What is the use of this Commission on Appointment when it is Pandak who has the final say on those appointments. She will give the position to a retired general or soldier any way. There is no rule of law in that country. The Senate and Congress are useless too. Their salaries are a waste of taxpayers money. That Cayetano is supposed to be a brilliant senator but it seems he does not have teeth either.
That NBN-ZTE prove, the Senators can not find a solid evidence? If that is in the U.S. nakulong na iyong manga hayup na yan. It seems that the only talent those tongresmen have is to accept mordida from pandak. Inutil
The CA is just a mockery! Do away with it! Inutil din lang sila! The evil bitch just appoints whom she wants again and again and there is nothing the CA can do. Just like all the other agencies of the evil bitches’ regime, “nakapon” na rin ang CA!
Commission on Appoinments ba ito o Komisyon to be Appointed ito?
Ellen,
Villar will revamp the CA alright but not after he’s tested where the wind is blowing from, i.e., Malacanang.
I don’t trust that craphead one bit!
Have said this before and I think should say it again — one may say all the oddest things about Sen Madrigal but I’m impressed by her ‘fighting record’ in the Senate — the lady Senator is a tried and true Opposition Senator, not one of those do lally and often worse, double crossing members of the Senate — she’s got more balls than a lot of them combined.
She swears she despises Gloria and has been at odds with Gloria since the time she worked for her while the bitch was Social Welfare Secretary under Erap.
According to Madrigal, Gloria asked her to ‘launder some funds/contributions, i.e., put them in one of the bank accounts or foundations set up by the piggy couple and when she refused, Gloria got mad.
I took her story at face value and said to myself, well, we shall see, but must say over the last couple of years, she’s not disappointed me. Madrigal has been a heavy hitting anti-Gloria senator and boy, do we need a few more like her if we want to punch a hole at Gloria’s Senate hitmen and hitwoman (Brenda!)
(I just hope she can temper her sometimes rather fishwife demeanour to be taken really seriously.)
Anna, you hit the nail on the head about Villar testing where the wind is blowing.
There’s a joke among us reporters that whenever there’s an issue, Villar would wet his point finger with his saliva and hold it to dry. Then he would know which way the wind blows.
Jamby is not the most charming personality but setting exterior attributes, so far she has been consistent in making a stand against injustice/ That involves corruption.
But she is not the type who would kowtow to media. Especially the spoiled brats among reporters. That explains her bad press.
Besides Villar, We should also be wary of Biazon. Though identified as an opposition, I do remember seeing him upset over Sen. Madrigal’s questioning certain points regarding the appointment of some military men poised to take office after their retirement. She did a good job.
To Ellen:
Could you possibly tell us (even through e-mail) who are the spoiled brats among reporters? Thanks.
The section on the Commission of Appointments in the constitution is only a scrap of paper. Afraid many if not all of the sections are the same scraps, too.
Octagonal-faced Money Villar is the most distrustful political figure in Pinas (for me). Villar’s ambition to become Pinas president sets him to follow the direction of the wind even if it blows a fecal odor. This endears him to Korap Gloria, palabas lang iyang kunwari ay oposisyon s’ya.
By its current composition, the Commission on Appointments is a big joke. No backbone and dominated by Gloria’s men and moles.
Villar has no guts, a mediocre guy who gets what he wants for swaying and dancing the tango with the devil woman, it is so obvious.
How to re-organize CA? It’s a deal or no deal solution. It’s tied with pork barrel allocation releases to her favorite tongressmen and senatongs. Malacanang can influence the composition of CA.
As long as the evil bitch holds the “purse”, everyone in the CA whether they belong to the opposition or not will toe the line and try to please her. The evil bitch “RULES”!
I hate power rate increase…so are the consumers and people. On the other hand, the rising oil price and cost of energy are inevitable. This is a world wide problem. What’s my point here? Well, Malacanang is using this power rate to muscle the Lopezes who have been not so friendly with GMA these past few years. It’s giant media network, ABS-CBN and DZMM have been critical and even attacking GMA government and these Malacanang bandits. What used to be a loyal ally in ousting Erap, the Lopez owned media has turned opposition. Just listen to what Korina Sanchez, Ted Failon, Pinky Webb, Ricky Carandang, Ces Drilon, Pia Hontiveros, Anthony Taberna say and you can immediately figure out that these people are obviously not fans of Malacanang. In retaliation, Malacanang through GSIS is now trying to take over and control Meralco. Are we seeing another Marcos style of taking over private companies?
The evil bitch knows how to inflict harm on those who oppose her by curtailing their freedom or cutting off their resources. This is how she does things and so far it worked so well for her! She is still in power inspite of all the big crimes she and her family had done so far.
Chi, octagonal shaped face…hah,hah,hah. But that is probably the best description for a man who does not have a solid stand.
Mam Ellen, two times akong nasuspinde sa isang kaso, nag-duty ng nine months na walang suweldo itinapon sa malayong assignment hanggang ma-Dropped From the Roll (DFR) at ngayon ay dismissed na. ang aking mga Appeal ay inupuan na lang ng NAPOLCOM, humingi ng tulong sa Public Assistance ng Ombudsman walang nangyari, sumubok sa Civil Service itinuro lang sa iba wala din nangyari. lumapit din ako sa main office ng PAO wala daw silang jurisdiction. sino pa ang puede kong puntahan. kumpleto po ang aking dokumento kanino ko po ito puedeng ipadala para malaman ng sambayanang Pilipino kung anong klaseng opisina ng gobyerno meron tayo lalong lalo na ang PNP, NAPOLCOM, DILG, Ombudsman at CSC. Ang GMA7 (Imbetigador TV) naman ay parang bahag ang buntot sa PNP. puede po ba sa inyo dahil dito lang po ako nakakakita ng mga taong intelihente.
Ang mga appointee ni Gloria ay puro Kasanga Incorporated.
Kaya ano ang maasahan na gagawa sila ng matino.Kaya ang nagyayari ay Kurakot Unlimited.
bayong,
Punta ka sa opisina ni Sen. Lacson sa Senado.
Bayong, please write me (ellentordesillas@gmail.com) details about your case.
Maraming salamat po, Mam Ellen and more power.
Salamat din sa yo TonGue-twisteD.
The way I look at it mukhang niluluko lang tayong lahat ng mga pulitikong nasa Kongreso na hawak ngayon ni GMA. Kunwari ay ipinagtatanggol nila ang interest ng bayan, baka naman interes lang nila ang pinoprotektahan. Sana naman ay kaiba sa lahat sina Lacson, jinggoy, at Escudero, and other opposition politicians. Kung hindi huwag na lang tayong umasa pa sa Senado.
How do we spot the real/genuine opposition from the one who is not? Nakikita ba ito sa pagiingay o consistency sa pakikibaka? Correct me if I am wrong, I know Jamby is not a perfect person nor a politician pero sa aking nakikita ay consistent siya sa pagkontra sa mga maling sistema ng Malacanang at pati na rin sa mga kaalyado nitong pulitko.
If I’m not mistaken, there was a serious allegation that Jamby used her money to win in last election. First time, she lost.
Second time, she spent millions and even used the services of a popular actress in her campaign. Enrile even accused her of cheating in Mindanao. One reason why the Garci tape scandal did not prosper was because the cheating was not limited to GMA and administration candidates; some from opposition like Jamby were also involved. Aside from involvement in election cheating, Jamby was very cruel to her staff and of course media. Imagine asking for a receipt for the purchase of a few bottles of soft drink. At home, her pet dogs are better taken care of than her maids. The dogs eat better foods and sleep with her in the master bedroom. If Jamby is not a consistent opposition, I would have long completely dumped her. But do we have to support the evil even if he or she belongs to the opposition? In fairness to the administration candidates, those who won and lost, there are also a few good ones.
OK lang kung pera naman ni Gambi ang ginagastos niya, hindi nakaw gaya ng ginagawa ni Gloria Dorobo. Pera nga ng mga OFW ginamit na pangsuhol sa mga botante noong 2004 halalan ng mga dorobo sa totoo lang.
Iyong mamanahin daw niya doon sa tiya niyang mayaman huwag na niyang habulin kundi rin lang niya gagamitin sa mga projects na maaalala siyang mabuti ng mga kababayan niya. Nasisira lang ang tingin sa kaniya ng marami lalo na kung sinusundan pa ng mga bad publicity ng mga bayaran ni Gloria Dorobo.
Lumalabas na ganid din siya kaya kahit ano ang gawin niyang consistency, sira ang pigura niya. Nagmumukha tuloy siyang walang pinag-iba kay Brenda at Dorobo.Kulang sa sincerity ang dating ng mga ginagawa niya.
Sa isang banda, mahirap talaga ang trying hard lang. Kailangan talaga wholehearted ang pakay, kilos at galaw!
Pabagsak na yata ang mga Madrigal kaya siguro nagpolitiko na lang si Jamby. Ilang pinakamalalaking pabrika ng semento na dating pag-aari nila, ngayon mga Mexicano at Pranses na ang nagmamay-ari. Bilyones ang halaga nung mga iyon.
Hindi ako magtataka kung yung away nilang magkakamag-anak sa mana, mauuwi sa patayan gaya nung nagyari sa anak ni Paco Delgado na si Rico.