“I respect the opposition of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago to my confirmation. I respect her legal opinion as a member of the Commission on Appointments (CA), as a Senator and as a legal luminary. I believe that her opposition is based on principles that she stands by.”

This was the clarification made by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman during a recent interview with members of the media where she was asked again to comment on the persistent dissent of the Senator to her being designated as DSWD chief.

This clarification supports Sec. Soliman’s earlier appeal to the public and the media to “not pit Sen. Santiago and against each other.”

In her earlier statement, the Secretary emphasized that she “has nothing ill to say about Sen. Santiago” adding that she recognizes the right of Sen. Santiago “to perform her fiscalizing role.”

She likewise disclosed that she, in fact, appreciates the “independence of mind and determination to seek the truth” because “the check and balance in our democracy is strengthened because of her diligence.”

It can be recalled that Sen. Santiago has been very vocal about her disapproval of confirmation of Sec. Soliman for four years now.

On Wednesday, June 11, the Secretary will face one more time the CA where the confirmation of her appointment will be heard at the plenary. #