MIRIAM HITS TRAPO CA PLOT

Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, member of the bicameral Commission on Appointments, denounced as "indubitably unethical, unprincipled, and reeks of trapo politics" what she said is a plot to obtain confirmation of DSWD Sec. Corazon Soliman, over her opposition and those of certain House representatives.

Santiago said that the Commission on Appointments, headed by Senate president Franklin Drilon, originally scheduled the plenary session for Soliman's nomination yesterday (Wednesday).

But earlier yesterday, Drilon suddenly postponed the plenary session for Soliman's nomination to next Wednesday, June 11.

"On the June 4 plenary session, I am allowed to raise my veto against Soliman. But on June 11, I will lose the veto, because of the Rules of the Commission on Appointments. Thus, Drilon and his Liberal Party cohorts will be able to deny my veto power by simply postponing the plenary session by one week," Santiago said.

Santiago said that Soliman has been "overstaying" as acting DSWD secretary from the time Pres. Aquino assumed office, and the LP is now resorting to "dirty tricks" to get Soliman confirmed. "Last Tuesday, I sent an urgent letter to Rep. Conrado Estrella III, who is the chair of the CA committee on labor, employment, and social welfare. Out of courtesy, I told him that I was going to veto the Soliman nomination. He said that a number of members of the House panel are also intending to veto her. So I thought that was settled," Santiago said.

Then early yesterday morning, Santiago learned that Drilon and other LPs in the Commission on Appointments decided to deny Santiago the opportunity to exercise her veto, by the simple move of transferring the Soliman proceedings from Wednesday June 4, to Wednesday June 11.

Santiago cited the Commission on Appointment Rules, which provides: "Section 20. Suspension of Consideration of Nominations or Appointments. - Any member may move for the suspension of action by the Commission on any nomination or appointment favorably recommended by a standing committee and the Chairman shall suspend the consideration of said nomination or appointment: Provided, that, such suspension may be taken up on the next succeeding session of the Commission; Provided, further, that this section shall not apply to nominations or appointments taken up by the Commission during the last session prior to a sine die adjournment of Congress."

Santiago said: "Sec. 20 in effect gives to every CA member the power of individual veto, except only during the plenary session prior to the last day of the Congress session. That day happens to be June 11. Thus, you can see that this maneuver is not only crude and infantile, but also an insult to me as a senator, and to the public as thinking citizens."

At press time, Santiago said that if she is outmaneuvered by "this foul plot" she will avail of her full legal remedies under the law against both Soliman, and the LP leaders who allegedly conspired to deprive her of her individual veto.

"This underground plot is serpentine. This is not daang matuwid," she said.