Examination of Cabinet Appointees |

On Friday, President Marcos Jr. reappointed Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual and Social Welfare Secretary Irwin Turfo after being deferred for a month’s leave last week after being bypassed by the appointment committee.

“The president is confident that Secretary of State Pascual can wholeheartedly fulfill his mission for the country,” Malacañan’s statement on Saturday, which included a photo of Pascual taking the oath in front of the president. There was no statement as to whether Turfo would be reappointed as well.

Pascual and Trufo were ignored twice by CA. The first was in September, along with his 12 other cabinet nominees, and the second, on December 14, when Congress postponed its regular session for the year.

Surigao del Sur Congressman Johnny Pimentel and Senator Immy Marcos accused Pascual of “lying” about his participation in the race for the presidency at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, an agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry. I objected to the appointment of Mr.

While this issue is likely to be resolved, the problem plaguing Tulfo is far more serious.

Senate Speaker Juan Miguel Zubiri, who heads the CA, cited Tulfo’s 2000 defamation conviction and lingering questions about his civil rights.

” [libel] The conviction has legal implications because the CA has never confirmed the convicted person in its final judgment,” Zubiri said. He said he had declared it a crime involving moral infidelity.

A more troubling issue for Turfo, however, is his US citizenship, which he acquired in 1988, which he supposedly renounced earlier this year in view of his appointment to the Cabinet. Caloocan City Councilor Oscar Marapitan revealed that Trufo was a member of the US military from 1988 to 1992. Sagip MP Rodante Marcoleta said records show Turfo was on “active military service stationed in Europe” from 1992 to 1996.

Marapitan asked Trufo if he renounced his Filipino citizenship when he enlisted in the U.S. military. asked for a session of Apparently that question could not be answered as CA postponed and postponed the private session an hour after him. Confirmation of Trufo.

Trufo told reporters he “cannot reveal” the details of his US military service.

Tarfo, who said he expected the issue to be raised at the hearing, claimed to have brought documents proving his Filipino citizenship. So why didn’t he be more outspoken about it at his CA hearing when the former tough-talking broadcaster, who denigrated so many personalities on his show, about his citizenship What is it that you keep so secret that you keep your mouth shut?

Still, Zubiri said CA gives Trufo “more room” to work out the problems that plague him. He added that CA invites current and retired judges to participate in his Tulfo case.

Has CA forgotten the embarrassment caused by the US citizenship issue of the late Perfect Yasay Jr., who was appointed as the Duterte administration’s secretary of foreign affairs? Yasay declared in front of his CA that he never obtained U.S. citizenship, but this paper’s revealing article on February 27, 2017 stated that he had obtained a U.S. passport and that in 1986 he had I have indicated that I have taken the oath of citizenship. He renounced his US citizenship and formally reacquired his Filipino citizenship as required by law. Following the report, the CA voted unanimously to reject Yasay’s confirmation of him.

Reacquiring Filipino citizenship requires a formal process. Individuals must appear in person before a U.S. Consular officer outside the U.S., sign a waiver, and file a petition to retain/reacquire Philippine citizenship at the Immigration Office and take the oath. . Loyalty to the Philippines. Did Tulfo do this before he was appointed to the Marcos Jr. Cabinet?CA bypassed him twice because he failed to provide an honest answer.

Is this also the reason why the president was not re-elected immediately?

On several occasions, Mr. Marcos has demonstrated that he will not tolerate unqualified appointees. He fired many of them, including his alter ego at the USDA who were involved in unauthorized sugar imports. Replaced Benny Antipolda, a controversial National Irrigation Authority official suspended by the Ombudsman for misconduct.

Accordingly, the CA is not obligated to go backwards in vetting Cabinet appointees to suit particular individuals and to change its constitutional powers. Indeed, the president has a deep bench where he can choose appointees with the proper qualifications to maintain integrity and harmony in his official family.

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