Duterte should fight for his appointees if he wants cabinet up and running, says political strategist

Following the rejection of the Commission on Appointments of the appointment of Foreign Secretary Perefecto Yasay on March and that of Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Wednesday, political strategist and journalist Malou Tiquia reacted by encouraging President Rodrigo Duterte to fight for his men.

Tiquia on Wednesday sad that Duterte "must learn the art and science of national politics".

She said the tentativeness of Duterte's appointees are worrisome.



Yasay was denied the position in March because of questions on his citizenship, making him the first Duterte appointee to be rejected by the CA.

"If he has a super majority as claimed, it should be able to deliver the votes in the CA or else the CA leadership should not force a vote with the amendments adopted," she said.

The CA has adopted a "three strikes, your're out" rule wherein the President is strongly suggested not to reappoint a nominee whose appointment has been rejected three times by the bicameral body.

"The 3 strikes and secret voting were amendments made pre-Yasay vote. It has not been published. PRRD needs to talk sense with both panels so that, a year after, his cabinet is functioning well and is in sync," she said.

She said the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office can give a heads up and help Duterte get rid of "road blocks.

PLLO is the agency that liaises with Congress all matters impinging on Executive Legislative relations.



"Unless PDP Laban wants to lord over appointments, PRRD should not be captive by intramurals within his party. Reign it in, Mr. President, it will do you good," she said.

Netizens mostly agreed on the sentiments of Tiquia.

"Exactly! The CA is such a powerful tool that can easily be use for political machinery. It is saddening that the kind of Gina Lopez was just easily blown away by this few self-centered individuals. I hope PDU30 will work hard and defend his worthy ministers who share the same vision with him," said Keenan Zuniga.

Another netizen, Patrice Ilagan called this method of secret voting in the CA as "unacceptable".

" The people who voted for them in congress and who will vote in future elections must know the stand of those legislators should they run again. We, the people demand to know the stand of the legislators in all votes they take," she said.

SOURCE: Malou Tiquia

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