The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) has received the appointment papers of newly designated Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon.
“We have already received Secretary Dizon’s papers, as well as those of newly appointed Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jaybee Ruiz,” CA Assistant Minority Leader and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel announced in a statement on Sunday.
“We won’t be able to address their appointments for now, as Congress is adjourned and not in session,” Pimentel stated.
Congress adjourned on Feb. 8 and will reconvene on June 2.
Under the Constitution, Malacañang may issue key appointments while Congress is not in session. These appointments are known as “ad interim” appointments.
“Ad interim appointments take immediate effect, allowing appointees to begin performing their duties right away,” Pimentel explained.
He added however, that ad interim appointments become invalid if disapproved by the CA or if they remain unconfirmed by the time Congress adjourns again.
President Marcos appointed Dizon as head of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Feb. 21, and the CA received his appointment papers on Feb. 24.
Dizon succeeds Jaime Bautista, who stepped down as DOTr secretary due to health reasons.
Previously, Dizon served as presidential adviser on flagship programs and projects and as president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) during the Duterte administration.
Ruiz was appointed head of the PCO on Feb. 24, and the CA received his appointment papers on Feb. 25.
Pimentel also confirmed that the CA has received the appointment papers of four new Constitutional Commissioners. They are Noli Pipo and Maria Tangaro-Casingal as members of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Luis Meinrado Pañgulayan, as Commissioner of the Civil Service Commission, and Douglas Michael Mallillin as Commissioner of the Commission on Audit.
All four were appointed on Feb. 10, and the CA received their appointment papers on the same day.
The Constitution empowers the 25-member CA to vet the competence, qualifications, and integrity of Cabinet members and other key presidential appointees, and to approve or reject their appointments.
The CA consists of 12 members each from the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the Senate President serving as the ex officio presiding officer.
