Commission confirms appointment of PCO chief Andanar, 3 other cabinet secretaries

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar. (PCO photo)

MANILA – The Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed Wednesday the appointment of four cabinet officials, namely the secretaries of energy, finance, labor and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

After being deferred last week for failing to provide the commission with data requested, the appointment of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi was confirmed.

Also confirmed were Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and PCO Secretary Martin Andanar.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon committed to vote for Andanar’s confirmation, but questioned if PCO secretaries usually need confirmation.

Drilon stressed that the 1987 Constitution states that since the PCO secretary heads an office and not a department, he should no longer need confirmation.

He further said that previous PCO secretaries, Herminio Coloma Jr. among others, did not go through confirmation.

“It is the first time CA will hear the appointment of a PCO secretary. It will be a precedent that future secretaries may be subject to confirmation,” Drilon said.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano agreed with Drilon but explained that secretaries who are heads of offices could also be confirmed.

Cayetano expressed support for the immediate confirmation of Andanar, noting that he has a tough job with many limitations.