A panel in the House of Representatives has endorsed for plenary approval a proposal declaring any presidential nominee who has been bypassed by the Commission on Appointments to be ineligible for reappointment by the President.
Approved and endorsed by the committee chaired by Pangasinan Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, House Bill 6402 or the proposed “Ineligible Nominees Act” says that a nomination bypassed for three consecutive instances or disapproved by a majority vote of the CA shall render the nominee ineligible for reappointment by the President. The elder Rodriguez said the bill aims to uphold the constitutional duties of the CA by setting limits on the power of the President to reappoint bypassed nominees.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, one of the bill’s authors, said the CA is usually reluctant to reject outright the presidential nominees, hence, would not confirm the appointment resulting in bypass.
“However, despite such bypass, the President would reappoint the same nominees. This practice of the President of simply reappointing her nominees, even after several bypasses, subverts the principle of confirmation mandated by our Constitution,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez stressed this situation makes a mockery of the constitutional duties of the CA to confirm and reject presidential appointees on the basis of the check and balance powers of the legislative branch of the government.