THE Commission on Appointments has approved the appointments of Sharon Garin as energy secretary, Henry Aguda as information and communications technology secretary, and the promotion of 39 flag and senior officers of the armed forces.
In his sponsorship speech, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, CA committee on energy chairman, said Garin will provide a “steady hand, sharp mind, and a strong will” as she leads the Department of Energy.
“Secretary Garin brings with her an impressive blend of academic preparation, professional training, and legislative experience. She is a Certified Public Accountant, a lawyer, and an MBA graduate from one of Europe’s top business schools,” Estrada said.
Estrada said Garin’s experience as a congresswoman and as a former DOE undersecretary will be an important factor in heading the department.
“As undersecretary, she chaired the Nuclear Energy Program Interagency Committee, strengthened renewable energy policies, and streamlined service contracts. As acting secretary, she showed decisiveness when she ordered action against erring power provider, putting consumers first,” he said.
Garin said she will support any move to lower the cost of electricity in the country.
Rep. Allan Ty, CA committee on information and communications technology chairman, said Aguda will do well in addressing the challenges in the country’s cybersecurity concerns, digital transformation, and e-governance, due to his technical expertise, vision, integrity, and leadership.
Before the confirmation of promotion of flag and senior officers of the armed forces, Sen. Imee Marcos questioned Maj. Gen. Loreto Pasamonte, former commander of the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing, on why he allowed Villamor Airbase to be the staging point for bringing former President Rodrigo Duterte to the Hague.
Pasamonte said he was only following orders from the chain of command and only knew of the plan later that day when Duterte was already brought to the Villamor Airbase.
Sen. Christopher Go said his feelings were hurt after he learned that Pasamonte and several armed forces officials were rejoicing after Duterte was sent to board a private plane heading for the Netherlands.
“Alam ko sumusunod ka lang sa chain of command. Ang masakit ay habang nagluluksa ang mga Pilipino ay nagawa ninyong i-congratulate ang isa’t isa… Alam naman natin na ‘yung tao na hinatid mo sa eroplano ay minahal tayo, nag-sakripisyo sa bayan…Alam ko si Pangulong Duterte, mahal na mahal niya ang mga sundalo (I know that you were just following the chain of command. But what hurts us was that while many Filipinos were mourning, you managed to congratulate one another…We all know that the person you led to that airplane loves us, and even sacrificed for the country…I know that President Duterte loves our soldiers),” Go said.
Pasamonte said that he immediately showed respect to the former president upon his arrival at Villamor Airbase, and informed Duterte that he was the pilot in command during the Marawi siege.
“But for the information po…ng good senator, during the Marawi crisis, out of 10 sorties na nabanggit niyo po, pito doon ako po ‘yung lumipad sir sa Marawi. So, I was the pilot in command of the former president, sir. And when he came over to the lounger area ng 250, I immediately informed him that I was the pilot in command and without knowing kung ano ang plan nung araw na ‘yun, sir. (But for the information of the good senator, during the Marawi crisis, I flew over Marawi seven times out of the 10 sorties. So, I was the pilot in command of the former president, sir. And when he [Duterte] came over to the lounge area of the 250th, I immediately informed him that I was the pilot in command and without knowing what was the plan during that day),” he said.
“Just the same, sir, as a loyal soldier lang po, as a professional soldier, I only followed the chain of command po, sir,” he added.
