Newly-appointed Department of Trade and Industry Acting Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque attends a press briefing in Quezon City on August 3, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- The Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed the ad interim appointment of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Maria Cristina Roque on Wednesday. 

Prior to the confirmation in the Senate's session hall, Roque was asked by Senator Risa Hontiveros on how DTI protects consumers from unsafe and substandard goods. 

Roque admitted that the matter is a serious problem and said they have caught many who go against product standards.

"To be honest, we have a lot of complaints, not because we don't really look at it or we don't really act on it but there are so many products that are being made, whether locally or imported. Kasi ang dami nang nagnenegosyo ngayon," Roque said. 

"We've already used, first AI to answer the frequently asked questions, kasi usually paulit-ulit lang naman ang tanong nila na question. Number two, we're really strengthening on digital which we must do because there's no way we can really track all of these unless we go digital," she said. 

"Number three, we're really adding more people which we got from the budget to be able to enforce," Roque stated.

READ: DTI chief Alfredo Pascual resigns -- Palace

Meanwhile, CA also approved the ad interim appointments of 21 officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), including Consul General Shirlene Mananquil, previously assigned in Indonesia, who helped prevent the execution of death row convict Mary Jane Veloso. 

Veloso was arrested in Indonesia in 2010 after authorities found heroin in the luggage that was given to her by her recruiters.

"It was a team effort po nung 2015 nung na-exempt si Mary Jane Veloso at the last minute from being executed by firing squad," Mananquil said before the confirmation of her appointment. 

"Kailangan namin ipakita sa Indonesian government na she is a victim at nahuli na po yung mga nambiktima sa kanyang mga, yung mga illegal traffickers," she added. 

"Kailangan lang po nun eh matinding pakikipag-coordination not just with the DFA but also with the Department of Justice. At ipakita na kung papatayin o i-e-execute si Mary Jane Veloso nang hindi siya nakakapag-testify laban doon sa kanyang mga traffickers, it will be an injustice to her." 

Mananquil is currently assigned in Istanbul. 

The Commission also confirmed the ad interim appointments of 22 generals, flag officers, and a senior officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).