MANILA: Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac needs to be reappointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. after he was bypassed by the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA). This, after the Second Regular Session of the 19th Congress, adjourned sine die on Thursday. 'Bypassed na siya at kailangan siyang ire-appoint ni President. At ang naging dahilan nun, tumutol ang Kamara, tumutol si Congressman [Rodante] Marcoleta (He has been bypassed and the President must re-appoint him. And the reason for that, the House objected, Congressman [Rodante] Marcoleta objected,' Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero said during the Kapihan sa Senado. He said since the CA -- composed of the Senate President as ex officio chairman, 12 senators and 12 House of Representatives members --votes as one, the deliberations on his ad interim appointment as the DMW Secretary were suspended. Marcoleta, representative of SAGIP party-list, filed a motion to suspend Cacdac's appointment during the CA comm ittee on labor hearing due to lack of time. During the deliberation on Tuesday, two people appeared before the CA questioned Cacdac, and opposed his appointment. On Wednesday, Cacdac in a statement thanked the CA for considering his appointment as Secretary of the DMW. Cacdac said he defers to the wisdom of the CA members to have more time to consider and deliberate on his appointment, as he submits himself to the process. 'In the interim, I will continue to engage our legislators and share the Department's collective vision to empower OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) to become genuine co-architects of national development. I will also continue to provide our legislators with the necessary information they require from us,' Cacdac said. President Marcos appointed Cacdac as secretary of DMW on April 25, 2024 after serving as officer in charge following the passing of Susan 'Toots' Ople in August last year. Before his ad interim appointment in the Cabinet, Cacdac also served as Executive Director V of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration; Executive Director V of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration; and Undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment. Source: Philippines News Agency