Reporter

AT least five Cabinet members will be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) before Congress goes on a Christmas break next week, the head of the House of Representatives’ contingent to the commission announced on Tuesday.

                “I expect that some Cabinet secretaries will be confirmed before the Christmas break,” said Lakas Rep. Prospero Nograles of Davao City.

                Nograles identified them as Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya.

                Nograles said the commission will try to finish the confirmation process of those it believes have the least resistance from the bicameral body’s members.

                “They may be ahead because
the others are still too controversial and may encounter rough sailing when their appointments would be taken up now,” said Nograles.

                Nograles said the commission has four remaining session days before Congress goes on a Christmas break on December 20.

                He said that even opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he was inclined to recommend the confirmation of Gonzalez at
the CA out of respect for the
justice secretary’s zeal to return to work after undergoing
a kidney transplant three months ago.

                Gonzalez and Lacson have been at odds on many issues and have even engaged in a word war before.  

Army general vows to rid NL of communist rebels by 2010

A RANKING Army official said on Tuesday that the units under his command could finish the New People’s Army (NPA) in their areas before 2010 despite the earlier pronouncements of other leaders of the military that they may not be able to meet the deadline set by President Arroyo.

ENVIRONMENT Secretary Lito Atienza was to meet Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Tuesday to discuss initiatives to ensure the sustainable management and conservation of the Coral Triangle, a rich marine area bordering Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands.

MILITANT groups are gearing up for nationwide protest actions against the recent surge in oil prices.

Members of the leftist labor federation Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) will lead the nationally coordinated protest actions.

THE Joint Congressional Power Commission (JCPC) is bent on unmasking the individuals who cooked up the National Power Corp.’s (Napocor) allegedly overpriced purchase of coal supply for Napocor plants when the bicameral oversight panel meets on Thursday, Sen. Miriam Santiago said.

SEN. Antonio Trillanes IV and his group admitted to courtroom misbehavior on Tuesday as they apologized to the judge for walking out of the hearing of the coup charges against them on November 29, prior to taking over the Peninsula Manila Hotel.

PRESIDENT Arroyo is perceived to be the most corrupt Chief Executive in the country’s recent history and her administration the hardest hit by allegations of  graft compared to others, the latest Pulse Asia survey showed.

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A powerful explosion rocked the province of Sulu, causing the destruction of Commission on Elections (Comelec) properties.

AT least five Cabinet members will be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) before Congress goes on a Christmas break next week, the head of the House of Representatives’ contingent to the commission announced on Tuesday.