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Give incoming President free hand to choose: Quoting former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri suggests that the incoming President be given a free rein in choosing the members of the Constitutional Commission and Offices during the Commission on Appointments (CA) deliberation on the matter Monday, May 30, 2022. Zubiri said that in February 2016, Enrile invoked Sec. 20 of the CA rules and explained that the appointment by the outgoing President would deprive the incoming President the free hand to choose the people he would want to represent him. “I tell you, ambassadors deployed abroad are representatives of the President. It would be unfair to the next President if these people are appointed by the outgoing President,” Zubiri said, quoting Enrile. Zubiri noted that former President Benigno Aquino III gave the incoming Duterte administration a “free hand to choose the choices of his Constitutional Commissions.” (Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB)