Resolving the plight of 29 Armed Forces of the Philippines generals as well as 86 foreign service officers whose confirmations were stalled due to the recently ended Senate leadership gridlock will be one of the priorities of the new Senate leadership, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said late Wednesday.
Lacson said the leadership under Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian is exploring various measures, including asking Malacanang for an ad interim appointment for the affected officers, and a special session to let the Commission on Appointments confirm these.
“Naaawa kami una sa nakabinbin na confirmation na AFP officers. Kawawa sila kasi ang kanilang nomination was made when Congress was in session. Kanina lang kami nag adjourn sine die (We sympathize with the stalled confirmation of the AFP officers whose nominations were made when Congress was still in session; we just adjourned sine die this afternoon),” he said.
“Alang alang sa magigiting nating opisyal, hihiling kami sa pangulo kung pwedeng tumawag ng special session para ma-convene ang CA (For our fine officers, we will ask the President for a special session to convene the CA so their plight will be addressed),” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: Bagong Liderato ng Senado, Tututukan ang Kalagayan ng 29 AFP, 86 Foreign Service Officers na Naantala ang Kanilang Confirmations
Following a leadership change in the Senate that installed Alan Peter Cayetano as Senate President last May 11, no senators were elected as CA members. The CA is tasked to confirm the appointments of AFP and foreign service officers.
On Wednesday, another leadership change took place in the Senate, with Gatchalian elected as Senate President Pro Tempore and acting Senate President.
“Dala namin ito, sa tamang tiyempo ang kanilang pag nominate pero dahil nagkagulo sa Senado hindi ma-convene ang CA (This is our obligation because their nominations were made on time but the CA could not convene because of the Senate leadership issue),” Lacson noted.
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Lacson: Bagong Liderato ng Senado, Tututukan ang Kalagayan ng 29 AFP, 86 Foreign Service Officers na Naantala ang Kanilang Confirmations
Ang pagresolba sa kalagayan ng mga 29 opisyal ng Armed Forces of the Philippines at 86 foreign service officers na naantala ang kanilang kumpirmasyon dahil sa kamakailang natapos na leadership issue sa Senado ay kabilang sa magiging prayoridad ng bagong liderato ng Senado, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson noong Miyerkules ng gabi.
Sinabi ni Lacson na tinitingnan ng liderato sa ilalim ni Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian ang mga hakbang, kabilang ang paghiling sa Malacañang ng ad interim appointment para sa mga apektadong opisyal, at pagdaraos ng special session upang makumpirma sila ng Commission on Appointments.
“Naaawa kami una sa nakabinbin na confirmation na AFP officers. Kawawa sila kasi ang kanilang nomination was made when Congress was in session. Kanina lang kami nag adjourn sine die,” aniya.
“Alang alang sa magigiting nating opisyal, hihiling kami sa pangulo kung pwedeng tumawag ng special session para ma-convene ang CA,” dagdag niya.
Kasunod ng pagbabago ng liderato sa Senado na nagluklok kay Alan Peter Cayetano bilang Senate President noong Mayo 11, walang mga senador na nahalal bilang miyembro ng Commission on Appointments (CA). Ang CA ang may tungkuling kumpirmahin ang mga appointment ng mga opisyal ng AFP at ng mga foreign service officers.
Noong Miyerkules, muling nagkaroon ng pagbabago sa liderato ng Senado, kung saan si Gatchalian ang naging Senate President Pro Tempore at acting Senate President.
“Dala namin ito, sa tamang tiyempo ang kanilang pag nominate pero dahil nagkagulo sa Senado hindi ma-convene ang CA,” ani Lacson.
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