Former Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said she wants the Commission on Appointments (CA) to clarify the reason for the rejection of her nomination.
Taguiwalo said in interviews that she is worthy of “candor and frankness” from the commission members who voted against her confirmation on Wednesday.
“I did not get any reason for my rejection so I said, at least they give me a reason as a going away gift,” Taguiwalo said in Filipino over DZMM.
CA rejected on Wednesday the nomination of Taguiwalo as the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). She is the third appointee of President Rodrigo Duterte thumbed down by the congressional body, after the rejection of former Foreign Affairs secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. and Environment secretary Regina Lopez.
Out of 25 CA members, 13 voted to reject Taguiwalo.
The former secretary said that CA should be honest, given her one year of service in DSWD.
She even added that CA took efforts in explaining their reasons for the rejection of then Environment secretary Lopez.
Confidential appointees at the Office of the Secretary will be leaving with Taguiwalo. However, the five undersecretaries appointed by Duterte will remain since they are co-terminus with their appointing authority.
After Taguiwalo’s rejection, Vice President Leni Robredo stressed the need for transparency on the commission’s deliberations.
Robredo said reason for rejecting a presidential nominee should be explained properly.
“Siguro mas gugustuhin sana natin na mas transparent din iyong process, mas alam natin kung bakit na-reject,” Robredo said.
Malacañang has yet to appoint an officer-in-charge to lead the department.