WITH issues on his citizenship and conviction on four counts of libel still to be settled, the confirmation of Erwin Tulfo as social welfare secretary will be bypassed, according to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.
In a press conference, Zubiri said the Commission on Appointments cannot act on Tulfo’s confirmation, adding Tulfo has to show proof that he is no longer an American citizen and his conviction on four counts of libel involves a case of moral turpitude.
Zubiri said President Marcos Jr. will have to reappoint Tulfo to his post, adding that if he is bypassed for the third time, members of the CA will have to vote if they will approve or reject his designation.
Zubiri said they have invited present and former justices to give their opinions on Tulfo’s conviction since as far as he recalls, no secretary who had cases involving moral turpitude was confirmed in the past.
“Not on my watch that we wouldn’t study this carefully. We should study the legal implications of this,” Zubiri said, adding the CA had never confirmed anyone who had been convicted and it applies to everyone, even an appointed official.
“We should thoroughly study the legal implications of this. It’s moral turpitude, there has been a precedent in the Supreme Court…There were instances when a clerk or a teacher steals something, even if it’s just a small amount. The SC always says it’s an act involving moral turpitude. Same goes whether you are elected or appointed,” he said.
“We want to weigh in. We will just continue with the hearings next year, kasi wala na (because there is no more), lack of material time,” he added.
The CA is set to discuss this week the confirmation of transportation secretary Jaime Bautista, economic planning secretary Arsenio Balicasan, trade secretary Alfred Pascual, housing czar Jose Rizalino Acuzar, and several officials of the Armed Forces.
Their confirmation will take time, and the confirmation of Tulfo will not be taken as Congress is set to take a Christmas break starting Dec. 17.
Tulfo earlier admitted he renounced his US citizenship earlier this year before he was appointed by the President.
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. has appointed former Piddig, Ilocos Norte mayor Eduardo Eddie Guillen as acting administrator of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), according to Press Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil.
Garafil said Guillen, who took his oath before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, was also named as a member of the NIA Board of Directors.
His appointment papers were signed last December 9. Guillen previously joined the NIA Board of Directors representing the private sector.
Guillen, an engineer, is an alumnus of the Mapua Institute of Technology where he earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
He replaced Benny Antiporda, who was suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman following a complaint lodged against him by some of the bureau’s employees.
NIA employees alleged that Antiporda committed conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct, harassment, oppression, and ignorance of the law. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
