BY JP LOPEZ

COMMISSION on Appointments minority leader Sen. Jamby Madrigal yesterday invoked Section 20 of the CA rules to freeze the confirmation of appointments of seven star-rank officers and 17 colonels from the Armed Forces.

This sparked a floor fight on what senators said was the whimsical use of the rule.

The CA reset hearings on the officers for April 28.

Under Section 20, any member may move for the suspension of action by the CA on any nomination or appointment favorably recommended by a standing committee.

However, this section may not be invoked during the last session prior to the sine die adjournment of Congress.

Congress starts its Holy Week break today.

Madrigal invoked Section 20 every time the names of the officers were read by Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, chair of the CA defense committee.

Sen. Mar Roxas said that while the right to invoke Section 20 is not debatable, this provision should not be used by Madrigal without explaining her reasons.

Sen. Richard Gordon rose to the floor to protest the "cavalier" way the rule was invoked on all the military officers.

Madrigal recalled the incident last week when she was allegedly deprived of her right to invoke the rule after the CA approved the promotion of Brig. Gen. Nestor Sadiarin, whose appointment she opposed. She branded the commission's action as "treachery."

Gordon took a snipe at Madrigal, saying the military officers earned their promotions in their tour of duty and did not inherit them.

Madrigal is a scion of the Abad Santoses and Madrigals, a wealthy family.

Madrigal interjected, saying "kabastusan na ito," to which Gordon said: "I am just a lowly probinsyano but my parents never say bastos."

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon then took the floor, echoing Gordon's argument that Section 20 had been used to overturn the will of the majority, and asked for a review of the rule by the commission.

Madrigal said she invoked Section 20 to send a strong message to the members of the commission: "Reform the commission now! Tapusin na natin ang bata-bata at padrino system sa Commission on Appointments."

Madrigal even described the commission as "corrupt," recalling that those who have no "padrino" are now languishing in jail for telling the truth.

She also said she is willing to be shot by the generals whose appointments were awaiting action. She said her grandfather, former Supreme Court Justice Jose Abad Santos, was executed by Japanese occupation forces.

Another shouting match occurred when Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza, the CA majority leader, said that Section 20 was not invoked by Madrigal because she was caught unawares last week by the promotion of Sadiarin

"She was awake but she was sleeping," said Plaza, prompting CA chair and concurrent Senate President Manuel Villar to suspend the session to allow cooler heads to prevail.