THE COMMISSION on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday, Oct. 10, rejected the appointment of Department of Health (DoH) Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, making her the fifth Cabinet member to have been turned down since President Rodrigo R. Duterte came to power.

No reason was given for the rejection of Ms. Ubial, who has been in public office for 27 years.

Senator Gregorio B. Honasan II, chairman of the commission’s health committee, said it had decided to “withhold its consent” to Ms. Ubial’s appointment. He did not elaborate.

Presidential Spokesman Ernesto C. Abella expressed regret, saying the government was grateful for her service.

Mr. Duterte has enjoyed strong opinion poll numbers since winning the presidency in last year’s elections but heavy scrutiny of his war on drugs, which has killed thousands of Filipinos, appears to have impacted his ratings.

Trust and satisfaction in Mr. Duterte fell to the lowest of his presidency in the third quarter of this year, a survey showed on Sunday, although sentiment about his leadership remained positive overall.

Lawmakers have also rejected the appointments of Mr. Duterte’s agrarian reform and social welfare secretaries, as well as his first appointees to the foreign affairs and environment departments.

Two of those Cabinet members were recommended by Maoist rebel leaders who were still talking peace with the government. Mr. Duterte has stopped the negotiations because of continuing violence.

Mr. Duterte’s next picks for foreign and environment secretaries, Alan Peter S. Cayetano and Roy A. Cimatu, have been confirmed. — Reuters

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