THE congressional Commission on Appointments (CA) has received the appointment papers of newly installed Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr.
“We already have Secretary Remulla’s papers, but we won’t be able to tackle his appointment for now because Congress is adjourned. We are not in session,” CA Assistant Minority Leader and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said in a statement on Sunday.
Congress adjourned on September 27 and won’t resume sessions until November 4.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Remulla as head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on October 8 and his papers were received by the CA on October 9.
Remulla succeeded Benjamin Abalos Jr., who earlier resigned as DILG secretary to run for a Senate seat in the 2025 mid-term elections.
Remulla had intended to run for his third consecutive term as provincial governor of Cavite in the forthcoming polls but withdrew his candidacy the day before he was named head of the executive department responsible for promoting peace and order, ensuring public safety, and strengthening local government capability to deliver basic services.
Remulla is the younger brother of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.
Pimentel stated that the CA has also received the appointment papers of newly designated Trade and Industry Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque.
The founder of the Kamiseta Group of Companies, Aldeguer-Roque replaced Alfredo Pascual, who resigned as head of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to return to the private sector.
Under the Constitution, Malacañang may issue key appointments while Congress is not in session, and such appointments are called ad interim appointments.
“Ad interim appointments have immediate effect. Thus, individuals with ad interim appointments may immediately enter upon the discharge of their functions,” Pimentel said.
Ad interim appointments cease to be valid upon disapproval by the CA or, if not confirmed, until the next adjournment of Congress, according to Pimentel.
The Constitution empowers the 25-member CA to vet the competence, fitness, and integrity of Cabinet members and other 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 as ex officio presiding officer.
