THE Commission on Appointments bypassed yesterday the nomination of Leonardo Leonida to the Commission on Elections but confirmed the nomination of l4 senior military officers and 23 diplomatic officials.

The CA committee on constitutional offices, chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson, decided to withhold action on the nomination of Leonida, a former regional trial court judge, as commissioner, on the request of the contingent from the House of Representatives.

?If we did not defer it, a member of the House contingent would have invoked section 20 [of the commission?s rules]. It was an untenable situation,? Lacson told newsmen after the plenary session of the bicameral body.

The Commission on Appointments is automatically prevented from acting on an appointment if a member invokes section 20 of the rules.

Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III said they moved to suspend the decision on Leonida?s nomination because they wanted to look further into his qualifications and background. But he said Leonida is likely to get the commission?s nod after the Lenten break. Fel V. Maragay