Piñol, Lopez hurdle CA tests

A few rounds of questioning were enough for Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and Department of Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol to pass confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA) last Feb. 1. 

The panel earlier deferred the appointment of Piñol last Dec. 13, 2016 after he failed to give concrete plans to alleviate the impact of quantitative restriction on rice which is set to expire in June 2017.

Piñol succeeded in answering questions during his second hearing before the powerful panel.

Lopez, meanwhile, breezed through his interrogation having extensive experience in the trade industry as he served the agency from 1982 to 1989 before being appointed to the cabinet.

Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, chair of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship expressed full support for Lopez, noting that he saw his passion in “uplifting the small and medium scale entrepreneurs in the country.

Zubiri also pointed out that Lopez constantly sent updates past working hours, which proved his dedication to his work.

Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon, Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto, and Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food also welcomed Piñol’s confirmation.

Pangilinan said that Piñol’s experience in farming and as former governor of Cotabato City will give him perspective in terms of how to improve the lives of farmers and fisher folk.

Meanwhile, the panel deferred the confirmation of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II after Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto moved to allow Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, who opposed Aguirre’s appointment, to “confront” the cabinet official.

Recto moved to defer Aguirre’s appointment as Trillanes, a member of the minority, is currently in the US on an official trip. He will return on February 11.