CA defers Cusi confirmation; approves those of 22 AFP officers

From InterAksyon (Oct 5): CA defers Cusi confirmation; approves those of 22 AFP officers

The Commission on Appointment chaired by Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III deferred Wednesday the confirmation of the interim appointment of Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi.

The Commission, however, confirmed the appointment to higher rank of 22 General/Flag and Senior Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

In an interview, Pimentel said Cusi's case was deferred only for one week as he has not answered three major concerns of the CA members, led by Senator Panfilo Lacson, on the energy situation.

“He was given one week to answer three questions,” Pimentel said.

Among them, Pimentel said are: The number of sitios electrified and energized by the department; to submit data on take or pay payments under the emergency power way back in 1995; and information regarding the feed-in tariff on renewable energy.

“Senator Lacson is opposing [Cusi's confirmation],” Pimentel said.

Cusi hails from Roxas Town in Oriental Mindoro and from Cebu. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 197 from La Salle College in Bacolod, his Master’s degree in Business Administration in 1976 from the University of the Philippines-Cebu; and his Doctorate in Business degree, honoris causa, in 2008 from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

He was also the vice-chairman of PDP-Laban prior to his appointment as a member of Duterte Cabinet.

22 AFP officers

Meanwhile, the CA confirmed the interim appointment to higher rank of the following military officers:

1.     Rear Admiral Gaudencio C. Collado, Jr.

2.     B/Gen. Paterno V. Morales

3.     M/Gen. Melquiades L. Feliciano

4.     B/Gen. Rizaldo B. Limoso

5.     B/Gen. Anastacio C. Cabading, Jr.

6.     B/Gen. Eric C. Uchida

7.     B/Gen. Arthur M. Biyo

8.     B/Gen. Arnulfo G. Rafanan

9.     B/Gen. Albert A. Mogol

10. Army Col. Jose Emmanuel L. Mariano

11. M/Gen. Domingo B. Palisoc, Jr.

12. B/Gen. Dionisio L. Robles

13. LT/Gen. Ferdinand F. Quidilla

14. M/Gen. Edgar F. Gonzales

15. B/Gen. Rolando Joselito D. Bautista

16. M/Gen. Elvin B. Velasco

17. Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph S. Mercado

18. B/Gen. Eric R. Calip

19. B/Gen. Martin G. Villasan

20. Commodore Giovanni Carlo J. Bacordo

21. B/Gen. Casiano C. Monilla

22. Commodore Samuel Z. Felix

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/133026/ca-defers-cusi-confirmation-approves-those-of-22-afp-officers