New Senate to push confirmations of generals, diplomats – Lacson

MANILA, Philippines — The delayed confirmations of 29 military generals and 86 foreign service officers will be prioritized under the Senate's new leadership, Sen. Ping Lacson said Thursday, June 4.

Lacson said Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian is exploring ways to act on the delayed appointments, including asking Malacañang for an ad interim—or temporary—appointments for the confirmation.

"For our brave officers, we will ask the president if he can call a special session so the [Commission on Appointments] can convene," Lacson said in a statement.

The confirmations of some military generals and foreign service officers had been stalled as the Alan Peter Cayetano-led bloc refused to hold session, failing to organize the appointments panel.

'Time to get back to work'

Lacson also said it was time for the Senate to return to its regular pace after Gatchalian was elected Senate president pro tempore on Wednesday afternoon, June 3 in a swift leadership shuffle after the 11-member minority bloc in attendance called for a quorum upon the arrival of Sen. Chiz Escudero.

"We have many pending priority bills and measures. We want to finish them so that when we return for the second regular session, we will have measures ready for floor deliberations," Lacson said in Filipino.

"Time to get back to work," he added.

Citing the 1949 Supreme Court ruling in Avelino v. Cuenco, Lacson had argued that Cayetano is "no longer Senate President" and that the chamber's top post was temporarily vacant.