The powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday approved the ad interim appointments of two members of President Duterte’s Cabinet, more than 40 senior military and five diplomats.

Confirmed were Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año.

The CA unanimously approved the confirmation of Ano, who was asked about issues concerning the peace and order situation in the country. CA members quizzed Bautista over the Bahay Pag-asa program of DSWD but gave their approval to his appointment.

Prior to their appointments as members of the Duterte Cabinet, Año and Bautista served as chief of staff Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the commanding general of the Philippine Army, respectively.

Leading the senior officials of the AFP whose appointments were confirmed were Army chief Lt. Gen. Macairog Alberto and Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, superintendent of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA). Also confirmed was controversial Marine Col. Ferdinand Marcelino.

BAUTISTA During the hearing, Marcelino became emotional after being asked by a member of the CA panel about his alleged involvement in the illegal drugs trade that led to his incarceration.

A known anti-drug crusader, Marcelino, along with his Chinese agent, was linked in the shabu laboratory raided by combined operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group in Sta. Cruz, Manila in January 2017.

“It is not easy to be imprisoned because I did nothing wrong. All the charges against me were fabricated,” said Marcelino, a member of the PMA Class of 1994.

“But it was truly an awakening, a learning experience not only as a military officer but also as a person,” he added.

Among the five Department of Foreign Affairs diplomats whose ad interim appointments were confirmed by the CA were former police general and now Ambassador to South Korea Noe Wong and Ambassador to Peru Ma. Teresita Cruz-Daza.