DMW chief Cacdac, 25 other appointees to undergo CA grilling

MANILA – Newly designated Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac and 25 other presidential appointees will undergo grilling by the congressional Commission on Appointments (CA) this month, according to Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel.

“We already have Secretary Cacdac’s appointment papers from Malacañang, together with the promotion papers of eight military generals and 17 career diplomats,” said Pimentel, CA Assistant Minority Leader, in a news release on Sunday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Cacdac as Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on April 25.

Cacdac previously served as DMW officer-in-charge for seven months.

Pimentel said he expects Cacdac and the other appointees to be vetted by the CA before Congress adjourns on May 25.

“We would encourage the public to send to the CA Secretariat any information, written report, or complaints or oppositions to the appointees,” Pimentel said.

In March, the CA bypassed an Army colonel’s promotion to brigadier general following the strong opposition by his estranged wife on the grounds of alleged physical abuse, adultery, and neglect in providing financial support to their children.

The Constitution empowers the 25-member CA to scrutinize the competence, fitness and integrity of key presidential appointees and to approve or reject them.

The CA is composed of 12 members each from the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the Senate President as ex-officio presiding officer.

Pimentel named the military generals awaiting CA confirmation of their promotions as follows:

–Lt. Gen. Fernando Reyeg, Armed Forces deputy chief of staff for operations;
–Air Force Maj. Gen. Pablo Rustria Jr., commander of Air Installation and Base Development Command;
–Air Force Brig. Gen. Genaro Menor, deputy wing commander of Tactical Operations Wing Eastern Mindanao;
–Marine Brig. Gen. Gregorio Hernandez Jr., commander of Combat Support Brigade;
–Army Brig. Gen. Romulus Joseph Canieso, chief of the unified command staff of the Northern Luzon Command;
–Commodore Felipe Bautista;
–Commodore Diosdado Caluya Jr.; and
–Commodore Vincent Sibala.

Meanwhile, the new batch of career diplomats awaiting their confirmation hearings is led by Ambassadors Paul Raymond Cortes and Celeste Vinzon-Balatbat, who were both promoted to the rank of Chief of Mission I.

Cortez and Vinzon-Balatbat are the country’s sitting ambassadors to Portugal and Chile, respectively.