REAPPOINTED Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa will face the screening panel of the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) for the second time on Dec. 5, CA Assistant Minority Leader and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel announced on Thursday.
Pimentel said the CA’s committee on health has scheduled Herbosa’s new confirmation hearing on the same morning that the commission’s committee on agriculture will deliberate on Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.’s appointment as agriculture secretary.
Citing “lack of material time,” the CA’s committee on health had deferred consideration of Herbosa’s initial appointment as health secretary when it first met on Sept. 26.
“Assuming the two CA committees will be able to come up with actionable recommendations on Dec. 5, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has also called the entire commission to assemble in a plenary session at noon on the same day,” Pimentel said.
“Under CA rules, officials that fail to obtain the commission’s consent by the time Congress adjourns will have to be reappointed by Malacañang,” Pimentel pointed out.
Congress is set to adjourn for the Christmas holidays on Dec. 16 and will not resume session until Jan. 22, 2024.
The 25-member CA is empowered by the Constitution to examine the competence, suitability and integrity of key presidential appointees, including Cabinet members, and to approve or disapprove them.
Thus far, the CA has confirmed the appointments of 21 Cabinet members named by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The President has yet to name a permanent migrant workers secretary to replace Susan “Toots” Ople who passed away on August 22.
The Department of Migrant Workers is currently being run by designated Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo Cacdac.
