APPOINTED. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri (center) leads the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the 46 generals/flag officers and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday (March 6, 2024). Zubiri also administered the oath of office of the new members of the Commission on Appointments -- Senators Joel Villanueva, Ramon Revilla, Ronald dela Rosa, and Raffy Tulfo. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)
MANILA – The Commission on Appointments (CA) approved on Wednesday the ad interim appointments of 46 generals/flag officers and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including former Presidential Security Group chief Brig. Gen. Ramon Zagala.
Zagala was appointed as commander of the Civil Relations Service of the AFP last year.
Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, chair of the CA's National Defense panel, attested to the plenary that the AFP officers are qualified to take their ranks.
"Your committee, after deliberating on their qualifications and fitness during the public hearing, determined that they are fit and qualified to be promoted to the ranks where they were appointed," Romualdo said.
The panel, however, deferred the ad interim appointment of Brig. Gen. Ranulfo Sevilla upon the request of Senator Risa Hontiveros who was not able to attend the CA meeting.
This, after the CA received a sworn opposition to the appointment of Sevilla who is currently serving as the deputy commander of the AFP Special Operations Command.
The CA panel will hear Hontiveros' opposition to Sevilla’s appointment next week.
During the CA plenary deliberations, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva took his oath as chair of the Human Settlements and Urban Development panel and as the Assistant Majority Leader.
Senators Ramon Revilla, Ronald dela Rosa, and Raffy Tulfo also took their oath as new members of the CA.
They replaced Senators JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Francis Tolentino, and Imee Marcos. (PNA)
