The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) is set to hear and decide this week on the committee level the nominations of Jose A. R. Melo as Chairman of the Commission on Elections, Raul Gonzalez as Secretary of Justice, and Angelo Reyes as Secretary of Energy, CA member and Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas said Sunday.

Gullas said the CA is also scheduled to deliberate on the appointments of a dozen senior officers of the Armed Forces.

"We will consider all their appointments on Wednesday, June 4, with no less than four CA committees holding hearings one after the other," Gullas said.

As with every nomination, Gullas said, the CA "is duty-bound to give due course to all opposition to every appointee."

Gullas said the CA’s committee on justice and the Judicial and Bar Council will deliberate on Gonzalez.

Oppositions to Gonzalez’s appointment have been filed by Ms. Marietta Orleans, Ms. Mercy Brillo, Atty. Bonifacio Alentajan, Sumakwel Nava, Atty. Pablo Francisco, Atty. Ferrer Co, Engr. Darwin Red, and partylist Representatives Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, and Luzviminda Ilagan.

Gullas said the CA’s committee on energy will tackle the appointment of Secretary Reyes, including the opposition filed by Lorenzo Cunanan.

The Cebu lawmaker likewise said the CA’s committee on constitutional commissions and offices will evaluate Melo, a retired associate justice of the Supreme Court.

Finally, Gullas said the CA’s committee on national defense will deliberate on 12 senior military officers, including the opposition filed by Nafis Aponie and Mohamad Norodin Abdullah to Brig. Gen. Raynard Ronnie Javier.

Three weeks ago, the CA’s committee on budget and management recommended the confirmation of Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., a former congressman from Camarines Sur.

The other week, the CA’s committees on finance and on constitutional commissions and offices endorsed Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and Commission on Audit Chairman Reynaldo Villar.

Also the other week, the CA’s committee on foreign affairs recommended the confirmation of four new ambassadors to India, the Vatican, Cuba, and Cambodia, plus several public ministers and consuls.

The CA has set a plenary session on June 11, the last day before Congress adjourns sine die.

"All those who have been cleared by the various CA committees will be up for plenary confirmation on June 11," Gullas said.

He said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who was previously endorsed by the CA’s committee on health, will also be up for confirmation on June 11, along with Comelec Commissioner Moslemen Macarambon Sr.

Gullas had earlier said the CA "is purposely expediting hearings, and looking to confirm as many qualified nominees and appointees as possible" before Congress adjourns.

Thus far, the CA, convened only in September last year, has already confirmed Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza Cabral, National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Public Works and Highways Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., and Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman.

Six other Cabinet members -- Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, and Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap -- were confirmed by the CA of the previous Congress.

Assuming Andaya, Teves, and Duque get confirmed on June 11, this would leave only four Cabinet members awaiting confirmation -- Gonzalez, Reyes, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, and Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Jose Atienza Jr.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque’s appointment papers are still not with the CA.