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By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Thursday, May 18, 2017
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MANILA – The Commission on Appointments (CA) has confirmed the appointment of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Cayetano sailed through his confirmation hearing on Wednesday without opposition.
“I move to recommend to the plenary the confirmation and nomination of Sen. Alan Peter S. Cayetano as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs even without him sitting there in front,” said Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, CA majority floor leader.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, the chairman of the CA committee on foreign affairs, said Cayetano’s nomination is the “shortest confirmation hearing of a Cabinet secretary.”
For his part, Cayetano said he is “humbled” by his confirmation which only lasted for a few minutes.
“I thank God for this opportunity. I thank the Commission. Gagamitin ko itong mabilis at painless na confirmation bilang paalaala that I have to do my best,” the close ally of President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte said.
The senator from Taguig also committed to “do our best to represent the Philippines” and “take care of the 105 million Filipinos.”
Duterte has previously announced that he wants Cayetano, his vice presidential candidate in the 2016 election, for the DFA post.
In December last year, the President reiterated that the senator would replace then secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. after the one-year appointment ban.
On South China Sea
In dealing with the territorial dispute with China, Cayetano vowed to be “objective-based.”
“Objective natin is how to first start talking, how to manage the situation and eventually whether in this generation or in future generation ma-secure ang every inch of our national territory,” he stressed.
Duterte’s marching order
Cayetano said he is scheduled to meet with the former Davao City mayor, now chief executive, today, Thursday.
“Si President does not micromanage… He has given me specific assignments in the past… ‘Yung isa niyang nasabi niya sa akin ‘yung mga bunga ng independent foreign policy gusto niya immediately madama ng mga tao.”/PN
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