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‘LB director vacancy not a pressing issue’
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Posted on May 09 2005
While anticipating a decision, the House leadership sees no urgency in appointing a new Legislative Bureau director at this time.
“The bureau is fully functional. It’s working very well. There’s no pressing urgency,” said House leadership spokesman Charles Reyes Jr. yesterday. “But we expect to have a decision shortly,” he added.
Reyes said House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial is not pushing for any particular candidate for the bureau’s top position.
Senate President Joaquin G. Adriano said that Senate Committee on Rules and Procedures chair Sen. Paul M. Manglona earlier announced the vacancy position.
Following that, five individuals turned in their applications, he said. They include Patrick E. Seman, Francine G. Sablan, Janice Marie A. Tenorio, Chong Won, and Glenna S. Palacios.
Adriano said the Senate leadership will have to meet with “the entire House members” on the issue, saying that “the House minority seems to be the majority” anyway.
“They [minority] have the votes,” said Adriano.
For his part, House leadership’s Reyes simply asserted that “the leadership is still intact.”
Sen. Manglona earlier said the job vacancy announcement was needed to give qualified local residents “a fair and equitable opportunity to apply.”
Under the Constitution, the director is appointed by the joint leadership of the Legislature consisting of the presiding officers, vice presiding officers, floor leaders, and chairmen of standing committees.
The bureau is temporarily headed by House legal counsel Jose Bermudes.
This came following the non-renewal last December of the employment contract of former LB director Walter Macaranas and the death of deputy director Plasido Tagabuel early this year.
