Commission on Appointments (Philippines)

The Commission on Appointments (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]

During the operation of the 1935 constitution (1935-1971), the CA 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 on Appointments 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 15th Congress:

Senators Senator Position Party Bloc Juan Ponce Enrile* Senate President PMP Majority Alan Peter Cayetano Minority floor leader Nacionalista Minority Franklin Drilon Assistant majority floor leader Liberal Majority Joker Arroyo Assistant minority floor leader Lakas-Kampi Minority Miriam Defensor Santiago Senator, Chairperson PRP Majority Edgardo Angara Senator LDP Majority Jinggoy Estrada Senator PMP Majority Francis Escudero Senator Independent Majority Gregorio Honasan Senator Independent Majority Sergio Osmeña III Senator Independent Majority Ralph Recto Senator Liberal Majority Bong Revilla Senator Lakas-Kampi Majority Vicente Sotto III Majority Floor Leader NPC Majority *Juan Ponce Enrile only votes to break ties.

Representatives Representatives Position Party District Roilo Golez Vice-chairman Liberal Parañaque-2nd Rodolfo Antonino Majority floor leader NUP Nueva Ecija-4th Rosendro Labadlabad Assistant majority floor leader Liberal Zamboanga del Norte-2nd Simeon Datumanong Assistant minority floor leader Lakas-Kampi Maguindanao-2nd Antonio Alvarez Representative NUP Palawan-1st Ferjenel Biron Representative Nacionalista Iloilo-4th Antonio del Rosario Representative Liberal Capiz-1st Rex Gatchalian Representative NPC Valenzuela-1st Erineo Maliksi Representative Liberal Cavite-3rd Rodante Marcoleta Representative Alagad Party-list Pedro Romualdo Representative Lakas-Kampi Camiguin Luis Villafuerte Representative NPC Camarines Sur-3rd

Party composition

Party		Senate	House	Total
	Liberal	2	4	6
	Lakas-Kampi	2	2	4
	NPC	1	2	3
	NUP	0	2	2
	Nacionalista	1	1	2
	PMP	1+1	0	1+1
	Alagad	0	1	1
	LDP	1	0	1
	PRP	1	0	1
	Independents	3	0	3
Totals		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