LP SENATORS SUPPORT DUTERTE CABINET APPOINTEES

MANILA -- Senator Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday endorsed and confirmed the appointment of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III.

Apart from Dominguez's appointment, those of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and Presidential Communication Secretary Martin Andanar were also confirmed by the bicameral Commission on Appointments.

At the plenary session of the CA, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano asked to put on record his gratitude to the members of the Liberal Party, namely Sen. Pangilinan and Sen. Drilon, who chaired the CA Committee on Finance and CA Committee on Energy respectively.

"I noticed that two out of four senior secretaries confirmed, the committees were chaired by members of the Liberal Party. They eloquently sponsored their confirmation. So let me put on record, our gratitude for their acts of statesmanship and also I consider this a vote of confidence in our administration," Senator Cayetano manifested.

Senator Pangilinan replied saying: "With that manifestation of Senator Cayetano, this is proof that there is no hidden agenda and that we are here to support the initiatives of this administration that we believe will be good for the country."

After the plenary session, Pangilinan was asked on the alleged Plan B of the Liberal Party.

"Hindi totoo 'yun na kami sa LP ay gumagawa ng mga hakbang na ganun. Unang-una nakita mo nga kanina dito na ang LP contingent sa Commission on Appointments ay talagang suportado ang ilan, lalo na ang mga haligi ng Gabinete ng ating Pangulong Duterte ay sinuportahan natin at hindi lang sinuportahan, tayo pa ang nagsponsor ng kanilang confirmation," Pangilinan said.

"Kung mayroon mang gumagawa noon ay hindi natin sinusuportahan 'yun at 'yun ay hindi tama. Dahil ngayon ang panahon para magkaroon ng tulungan sa abot ng ating makakaya at kung mayroon mang ganung mga hakbang eh kontra 'yun sa ating Saligang Batas. Ako'y naniniwala na dapat ay palakasin natin at patatagin natin ang ating Constitutional democracy."

During the committee hearing, Sen. Paolo Benigno IV also expressed his support for Dominguez.

"I would just like, for the record, to state my support for Secretary Dominguez. I've known him actually for almost all of my life and as senator, he was one of the first secretaries that I sought an audience with within maybe two to three weeks of his assumption to talk about not only finance but specifically the tax reforms that we need to do. The meetings have been very fruitful and Secretary Dominguez continues to show his expertise on the matter. Just for the record, Mr. Chairman, I support Secretary Dominguez," Aquino said.

Pangilinan, Aquino, and Drilon are members of the Liberal Party.