Commission on Appointments

The Commission on Appointments (Filipino: Komisyon sa Paghirang, abbreviated as CA) is a body of the Congress of the Philippines as provided by the Constitution. It confirms certain appointments made by the President of the Philippines. Article VII, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution reads:

"The President shall nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, appoint the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, or officers of the armed forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain, and other officers whose appointments are vested in him in this Constitution. He shall also appoint all other officers of the Government whose appointments are not otherwise provided for by law, and those whom he may be authorized by law to appoint. The Congress may, by law, vest the appointment of other officers lower in rank in the President alone, in the courts, or in the heads of departments, agencies, commissions, or boards.[1]

The only government official that is exempted is the Vice-President.

During the operation of the 1935 constitution, replaced in 1971, the commission was composed of 12 senators.

Officials confirmed

  1. Heads of Executive Departments
  2. Ambassadors, other Public Ministers and Consuls
  3. Officers of the Armed Forces from the rank of Colonel or Naval Captain
  4. Regular Members of the Judicial and Bar Council
  5. Chairman and Commissioners of the Civil Service Commission
  6. Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission on Elections
  7. Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission on Audit
  8. Members of the Regional and Consultative Commissions
  9. Chief of Philippine National Police

However, the appointments of all judges and the Ombudsman shall not be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments. Instead, they are recommended by the Judicial and Bar Council, and the President shall select from the recommendations.

Composition

The Commission is composed of the Senate President, the ex officio Chairman, twelve Senators and twelve members of the House of Representatives. Members from each House of Congress are elected based on proportional representation from the political parties and parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented. The Chairman of the Commission shall vote only in case of a tie. It shall act on all appointments submitted within thirty session days of Congress. It shall be governed by a majority vote of all members.[2]

The Commission on Appointments was again in the spotlight recently as Senator Jamby Madrigal invoked Section 20 of the Rules of the Commission on Appointments, effectively deferring the promotion of 25 officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. and the appointment of Health Secretary Francisco Duque.[3]

Current members

Members for the 17th Congress as of August 19, 2016:[4]

Senators

Senator Party Bloc
Aquilino Pimentel III* PDP-Laban Majority
Alan Peter Cayetano PDP-Laban Majority
Juan Miguel Zubiri Independent Majority
Franklin Drilon Liberal Majority
Kiko Pangilinan Liberal Majority
Bam Aquino Liberal Majority
Gregorio Honasan UNA Majority
Panfilo Lacson Independent Majority
Loren Legarda NPC Majority
Vicente Sotto III NPC Majority
JV Ejercito UNA Majority
Manny Pacquiao UNA Majority
Ralph Recto Liberal Minority

*Pimentel only votes to break ties.

Representatives

Representatives Party District Bloc
Ronaldo Zamora PDP-Laban San Juan City Majority
Tonyboy Floirendo PDP-Laban Davao del Norte-2nd Majority
Jerry Treñas PDP-Laban Iloilo City Majority
Rodolfo T. Albano III Nacionalista Isabela-1st Minority
Benhur Salimbangon NUP Cebu-4th Majority
Josephine Y. Ramirez-Sato Liberal Occidental Mindoro Majority
Julieta Cortuna A TEACHER Party list Minority
Roy Loyola PDP-Laban Cavite-5th Majority
Abraham Tolentino PDP-Laban Cebu-7th Majority
Weslie Gatchalian NPC Valenzuela-1st Majority
Sandy Ocampo Liberal Manila-6th Majority
Joel Mayo Almario PDP-Laban Davao Oriental-2nd Majority

Party composition

Party Senate House Total
PDP-Laban 1+1 6 7+1
Liberal 4 2 6
NPC 2 1 3
Nacionalista 1 1 2
UNA 2 0 2
NUP 0 1 1
A TEACHER 0 1 1
Independent 2 0 2
Totals 12+1 12 24+1

Bloc composition

Bloc Senate House of Representatives Total
Majority 11+1 10 21+1
Minority 1 2 3
Total 12+1 12 24+1

References

  1. The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, Chan Robles law library.
  2. Commission on Appointments Official Website
  3. Madrigal puts damper on promotion of 25 military officers - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos
  4. CA elects Members for 17th Congress
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