The Commission on Appointments (CA) will continue with the scheduled confirmation hearings of three Cabinet members of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., despite their submission of ‘courtesy resignations,’ said Surigao del Sur Representative Johnny Pimentel on Sunday.
In a report by RH Milky Rigonan, Pimentel, who is also the Assistant Minority Leader of the CA, the hearings will push through unless the President formally withdraws the ad interim appointments of the officials concerned.
“Unless the President formally withdraws the ad interim appointments of the three Cabinet members under review, the CA committees are expected to move forward with the hearings on June 3,” Pimentel said.
The officials set to face the CA on June 3 are Transportation Secretary Vivencio “Vince” Dizon II, Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Rhoel Agudo, and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jaybee Ruiz, despite having submitted their courtesy resignations last week.
Marcos recently asked all members of his Cabinet to submit courtesy resignations as part of a reorganization and performance review. However, Pimentel clarified that a courtesy resignation is distinct from a formal resignation.
“A courtesy resignation is not the same as a formal resignation. It is simply an offer to vacate one’s position, which the President may choose to accept or reject,” he explained.
He added that in the absence of any formal communication from the President, Dizon, Agudo, and Ruiz are still required to undergo the confirmation process.
“Their ad interim appointments remain valid unless the President formally withdraws them or the CA disapproves or bypasses them,” Pimentel added.
The Senate and House are scheduled to resume sessions on Monday, June 2, after a four-month recess to accommodate the 2025 midterm elections.
