Senator Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III assailed Malacañang for defending the appointing power of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who reappointed Cabinet officials who were bypassed by the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) after Congress went into recess.
“The President’s insistence on the reappointment of Cabinet officials consistently bypassed by the CA emasculates the CA, and consequently, the legislative branch of government.”
Senator Aquino is the principal author of Senate Bill No. 1719, entitled “Appointee Ineligibility Act of 2007”, which seeks to empower the CA to declare as ineligible Presidential nominees who would fail to secure a confirmation 3 times.
“This bill calls for the strengthening of the CA’s role in effectively checking executive power. It aims to discourage the President from reappointing her nominees regardless of the number of times these nominees have been by-passed by the CA.”
“Presidential prerogatives are only valid if the President herself is willing to cooperate in genuine efforts to improve transparency in government. Clearly, her strong desire to protect her administration from scrutiny, as proven by EO 464 and the non-disclosure of public documents, only shows a greater desire to stay in power. Therefore, protecting the constitutional mandates of independent bodies such as the CA is all the more necessary.”
Oct 25, 2007
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