Finance Secretary Recto Among 170 Awaiting Commission on Appointments Hearings

MANILA – The Commission on Appointments (CA) is set to conduct hearings for new Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, two ambassadors, and 168 senior military officers once the Congress resumes its session on January 22. This announcement comes as part of the CA’s ongoing role in scrutinizing and confirming key presidential appointees.

According to Philippines News Agency, the CA received the appointment papers for Ralph Recto, as well as nomination papers for two ambassadors and promotion papers for a large group of senior military officers. Pimentel, representing Surigao del Sur, detailed that Flerida Ann Camille Mayo has been nominated as the Philippine ambassador to Cambodia, and Edgar Tomas Auxilian as the Philippine ambassador to Papua New Guinea, with concurrent jurisdiction over Kiribati and Solomon Islands.

Pimentel further revealed that the senior military officers awaiting confirmation include four major generals from the Philippine Army: Leodevic Guinid, Allan Hambala, Edmund Peralta, and Ramon Zagala II. Additionally, 13 brigadier generals from the Philippine Army, three commodores from the Philippine Navy, and 148 colonels from the Philippine Army and the Philippine Air Force are also pending confirmation.

He encouraged the public to submit any relevant information, written reports, sworn or notarized complaints, or oppositions regarding the appointees to the CA Secretariat. The CA, composed of 25 members including 12 from the House of Representatives, 12 from the Senate, and the Senate President as the ex officio presiding officer, is mandated by the Constitution to assess the competence, fitness, and integrity of presidential appointees and to approve or disapprove them.