Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman today appealed to the public in general and the media in particular not to pit her against Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

This developed after the approval of the appointment of Sec. Soliman was voted by the Commission on Appointments (CA) Committee on Labor and Employment and Social Welfare chaired by Rep. Conrado Estrella III.

Sec. Soliman will face the plenary on Wednesday, June 11.

It can be recalled that Sen. Santiago has been against the confirmation of Sec. Soliman for four years now.

Congressman Estrella III explained that Sen. Santiago can no longer invoke Section 20 of the commission’s rules to block Sec. Soliman’s confirmation since it would be the last CA session on Wednesday before the annual adjournment of Congress.

As soon as she was confirmed at the committee level, Sec. Soliman was asked to comment about the reaction of Sen. Santiago.

“I have nothing ill to say about Sen. Santiago. I respect and recognize her right to perform her fiscalizing role,” she said.

Sec. Soliman added, “The check and balance in our democracy is strengthened because of her diligence. Her independence of mind and determination to seek truth is appreciated by many including myself.”

She said that the confirmation of her appointment will give a sense of legitimacy to her work.

“I appeal to everyone to end the issue and to just let the process takes its course,” Sec. Soliman ended. ###