Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said that while Tan is a presidential appointee and wants to be a SC justice, the COA is independent of the Executive Department.
“Pansinin natin na ang tinutukoy na ahensya, ang COA, ay isang independent constitutional body ng ating pamahalaan. Ganyan ang nature ng COA, ayon sa mga humubog ng Saligang Batas. Kailangan independent ito mula sa ehekutibo,” Coloma said on government-run dzRB radio.
“Dapat lang siguro kilalanin ang institutional integrity ng COA na hindi nababahiran dahil sa pagkakaroon ng appointing power ng pangulo,” he added.
He also said it would not be fair to conclude that Pulido-Tan would be less than objective in scrutinizing the “Napo-list” in exchange for a shot at being the replacement of retired SC Justice Roberto Abad.
Besides, he said it is the independent Judicial and Bar Council that would decide if Pulido-Tan is deserving of being included in the short list to be submitted to President Benigno Aquino III.
Earlier, Pulido-Tan said the COA has started an investigation into the claims of the supposed mastermind of the alleged pork barrel and Malampaya fund scams Janet Napoles in her affidavit.
Napoles had linked several incumbent and former lawmakers – as well as now Budget Secretary Florencio Abad – to the scam in her affidavit submitted to the Department of Justice. Several of the lawmakers and Abad had denied the allegations. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News
