Rep. Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva

Assistant Minority Leader of the Commission on Appointments
Youngest Member of the Commission in the 14th Congress
First party list representative member of the Commission

Rep. Joel Villanueva is the youngest member of the powerful Commission on Appointments in the 14th Congress. He is also the first party list representative member of the CA. In the Commission’s caucus and plenary session on September 5, 2007 at the Philippine Senate, Rep. Villanueva was elected as the Assistant Minority Leader of the Commission. Senate President Manny Villar, chairman of the CA, administered his oath of office.

The Commission on Appointments

The Commission on Appointments (CA) was created under the 1987 Constitution to provide the necessary checks and balances to the executive power of appointment under a republican system of government. It is composed of the President of the Senate, the ex-officio Chairman, twelve Senators and twelve members of the House of Representatives. Members from each House of Congress are elected based on proportional representation from the political parties and parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented. The Chairman of the Commission shall vote only in case of a tie. It shall act on all appointments submitted within thirty session days of Congress. It shall be governed by a majority vote of all members.

Mandate

The Commission on Appointments (CA) is vested by the 1987 Philippine Constitution with the power to approve or disapprove appointments made by the President of the Philippines, the confirmation of which is required under the Constitution. This power shall be discharged with impartiality, without partisan consideration and with only one impelling motive, which is the harmonious and efficient functioning of the government.
The Commission’s function forms part of the very delicate mechanism of checks and balances established by the Constitution to insure that the coordinate departments of the government will function in a way that will be most conducive to the public welfare.

Jurisdiction

The President of the Philippines shall appoint the following subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments:

1. Heads of Executive Departments
2. Ambassadors, other Public Ministers and Consuls
3. Officers of the Armed Forces from the rank of Colonel or Naval Captain
4. Regular Members of the Judicial and Bar Council
5. Chairman and Commissioners of the Civil Service Commission
6. Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission on Elections
7. Chairman and Commissioners of the Commission on Audit
8. Members of the Regional and Consultative Commissions

Constitutional Provisions

Philippine Constitution, Article VI, Section 18

"There shall be a Commission on Appointments consisting of the President of the Senate, as ex-officio Chairman, twelve Senators and twelve Members of the House of the Representatives, elected by each house on the basis of proportional representation from the political parties and parties or organizations registered under the party-list system represented therein. The Chairman of the Commission shall not vote, except in case of a tie. The Commission shall act on all appointments submitted to it within thirty session days of the Congress from their submission. The Commission shall rule by a majority vote of all the Members."

Philippine Constitution, Article VII, Section 16

"The President shall nominate and, with the consent of the Commission on Appointments, appoint the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, or officers of the armed forces from the rank or colonel or naval captain, and other officers whose appointments are vested in him in this constitution."

He shall also appoint all other officers of the Government whose appointments are not otherwise provided for by the law, and those whom he may be authorized by law to appoint. The Congress may, by law, vest the appointment of other officers lower in rank in the President alone, in the courts, or in the heads of departments, agencies, commissions, or boards.

The President shall have the power to make appointments during the recess of Congress, whether voluntary or compulsory, but such appointments shall be effective only until disapproval by the Commission on Appointments or until the next adjournment of the Congress."

Philippine Constitution, Article VI, Section 19

"The Electoral Tribunals and the Commission Appointments shall be constituted within thirty days after the Senate and the House of Representatives shall have been organized with the election of the President and the Speaker. The Commission on Appointments shall meet only while the Congress is in session, at the call of its Chairman or a majority of all its Members, to discharge such powers and functions as are herein conferred upon it."

14th Congress CA Members

Click for CA Updates:

“Walkout mars CA confirmation of 102 nominees” – MALAYA 6/12/08

http://www.malaya.com.ph/jun12/news3.htm