Department of Foreign Affairs (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The congressional Commission on Appointments (CA) has grilled a Department of Foreign Affairs official over his psychological capacity to perform his duty.
During the CA committee on foreign affairs hearing on Wednesday, lawmakers learned that Chief of Mission Class II Voltaire dela Cruz Mauricio鈥檚 marriage with the sister of Senator Risa Hontiveros was declared 鈥渘ull and void ab initio鈥� due to his psychological incapacity.
鈥淔or the record, to enlighten the body, siguro (maybe) just cite the basis of the decision. What is the basis of the decision of the court?鈥� Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative Luis Raymund 鈥淟ray鈥� Villafuerte Jr. asked.
Mauricio answered: 鈥淭o summarize it, Your Honor, I admitted psychological incapacity.鈥�
Villafuerte then quizzed if his psychological incapacity is still existent, to which Mauricio answered 鈥渘o.鈥�
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 exist anymore. The resolution was issued in 2006, and I鈥檝e been promoted several times in the Department of Foreign Affairs without any issue on my competence or psychological state of mind,鈥� Mauricio explained.
鈥淚n fact, one of the required things for me to be invited here is my psychological fitness as attested by licensed psychologists, Your Honor,鈥� he added.
The CA panel recommended the nomination of Mauricio to the plenary, which confirmed the official鈥檚 appointment. With reports from Catherine Dabu, 黑料社 trainee