CA to bypass Heidi Mendoza’s confirmation?
“Who will stand by Heidi?” With these words, Solita Collas-Monsod concluded her Sept. 29 column titled “Why is Heidi Mendoza still unconfirmed?”
Monsod’s remarks hound this reader no end. We believe COA Commissioner Mendoza truly deserves the Senate’s elusive confirmation, long overdue for nearly two years. Reportedly a career civil servant for 22 years until 2006, the confirmation is hanging. Why, indeed?
Now it should be reiterated. On April 12, 2011, the Inquirer published our letter asking where the 2009 and 2010 NFA reports of the Commission on Audit (COA) were. As the 2009 report was one year overdue, we decided to proceed one morning to the COA head office where I chanced upon Mendoza. After the usual niceties, and without a previous appointment she ushered us into a room, which looked like a war room, with papers appearing to be in disarray but kept in marked, neat folders.
That was the time the Senate inquiry on alleged military corruption was in high gear and although her attention was alternately drawn to the live TV coverage of the Senate hearing, she answered our queries directly without much ado. (She had earlier been summoned to testify at a hearing on the matter, and she attended without reservation.)
To the public’s satisfaction, the 2009 report was out in due time.
Already lacking in poundage, Mendoza’s calm disposition and strong character belie a frail, feminine disposition. How on earth could she have mustered the energy and fortitude demanded of a state auditor, the task of which can be life threatening and thankless? Only God knows!
By no means an attack dog, this piece is consistent with our views in our letter, “Jesse confirmed deep in our hearts,” thankfully published by the Inquirer a month ago. Will there be a repeat of Jesse’s nonconfirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA)—this time on Heidi? Sana hindi na (No, not again, please)! “We were deprived the honor of confirming a great man,” Rep. Roilo Golez, a CA member said.
—MANUEL Q. BONDAD,
