MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) After hours of intense questioning, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima still failed to get the confirmation on Wednesday by the powerful Commission on Appointments.
On motion of Senator Joker Arroyo, the Commission's committee on finance suspended its confirmation hearing on Purisima. It will resume on March 16.
In filing his motion before the committee, Arroyo expressed his desire to raise more questions for the nominee.
The committee then granted Arroyo's motion and decided to just resume its hearings on March 16.
Purisima will not be available in the committee's next hearing as he will join President Aquino's state visits in Singapore and Indonesia next week.
Members of the CA earlier grilled Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima over his alleged stance regarding unpaid real property tax liabilities by a power producer in Pagbilao, Quezon.
Purisima's position on the issue as chairman of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) was the basis of Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez's opposition to Purisima's confirmation during Wednesday's deliberation by the Commission's committee on finance.
“This representation respectfully opposes the confirmation of Secretary Cesar Purisima of the Department of Finance, because I believe his policy direction is detrimental to the fiscal situation of the country,” Suarez said in his position paper, a copy of which was furnished to reporters.
“It has come to my attention that Secretary Purisima, as chairman of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, is against the payment of the proper Real Property Taxes by Mirant for the coal-fired thermal power plant operated in Pagbilao, Quezon Province,” he said.
Suarez said the province of Quezon and the municipality of Pagbilao must be properly compensated not only because it is mandated under the local government but also because “there are standards of fair play that is read into every contract.”
“As hosts of the aforesaid power plants, the province of Quezon and municipality of Pagbilao were primary recipients of the detrimental effects of such an industry,” he further said.
On motion of Senator Joker Arroyo, the Commission's committee on finance suspended its confirmation hearing on Purisima. It will resume on March 16.
In filing his motion before the committee, Arroyo expressed his desire to raise more questions for the nominee.
The committee then granted Arroyo's motion and decided to just resume its hearings on March 16.
Purisima will not be available in the committee's next hearing as he will join President Aquino's state visits in Singapore and Indonesia next week.
Members of the CA earlier grilled Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima over his alleged stance regarding unpaid real property tax liabilities by a power producer in Pagbilao, Quezon.
Purisima's position on the issue as chairman of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM) was the basis of Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez's opposition to Purisima's confirmation during Wednesday's deliberation by the Commission's committee on finance.
“This representation respectfully opposes the confirmation of Secretary Cesar Purisima of the Department of Finance, because I believe his policy direction is detrimental to the fiscal situation of the country,” Suarez said in his position paper, a copy of which was furnished to reporters.
“It has come to my attention that Secretary Purisima, as chairman of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation, is against the payment of the proper Real Property Taxes by Mirant for the coal-fired thermal power plant operated in Pagbilao, Quezon Province,” he said.
Suarez said the province of Quezon and the municipality of Pagbilao must be properly compensated not only because it is mandated under the local government but also because “there are standards of fair play that is read into every contract.”
“As hosts of the aforesaid power plants, the province of Quezon and municipality of Pagbilao were primary recipients of the detrimental effects of such an industry,” he further said.
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