THREE groups under the Commission on Appointments will review the promotion of 96 officials including Election Commissioner Leonardo Leonida and two former commanders of the Presidential Security Group.

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas, head of the House contingent to the bicameral commission, said the appointment body?s committee on national defense chaired by Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III will conduct its hearing on the senior military officers tomorrow.

Under Albano?s committee, those pending confirmation are led by two former chiefs of the Presidential Security Group: Maj. Gen. Delfin Bangit, up for promotion to lieutenant general; and Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza, to major general.

On Wednesday, the committee on constitutional commissions and offices chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson would deliberate and rule on the nomination of Leonida.

Leonida was a former justice of the Court of Appeals. The Lacson panel deferred consideration of Leonida?s nomination when it last held a hearing on Feb. 18.

Also on Wednesday, Gullas said the committee on foreign affairs chaired by Senator Miriam Santiago will discuss the appointments of a group of senior diplomats: Orlando Mercado as ambassador to China; Alejandro del Rosario, to Poland; Ariel Abadilla, to Ireland; and Ma. Corazon Bahjin, to Bahrain.

Gullas said the CA intends to hold a plenary session on Wednesday to confirm all the Cabinet appointees that would be endorsed by the committees.

To go through the plenary?s scrutiny are Ralph Recto (Economic Planning), Marianito Roque (Labor), Cerge Remonde (Press), Angelo Reyes (Energy), Jose Atienza (Environment) and Civil Service Commission Chairman Ricardo Saludo. Christine F. Herrera