Skip to content

Tag: Foreign Affairs

Romulo pre-empted Malacañang on retention of envoys?

Published by Ellen on July 6, 2010

Related article: “Sadly, the new team continues to hit the ground tripping on its own feet..”-Malaya editorial

The July 5 statement of Malacañang says Romulo and Ochoa have recommended Arroyo envoys’ extension of service and the memo is still at the President’s desk.

Yet, last July 1, Romulo sent out a memo individually to the 26 political ambassadors that they can stay up to September 30, 2010. Click here for the news report on this by Philippine Star.

Did Romulo pre-empt Aquino?

Ochoa also said, “Everybody stays until they are replaced or until the agreed period, whichever comes first.”

What’s the basis of this order? Were the ambassadors appointed by Aquino? There’s nothing that says they were appointed? Nothing in the powers of the president grants him the power to extend a non-existent appointment.

Meanwhile that Aquino has not yet (supposedly) approved the recommendation of Romulo and Ochoa, what’s the legal basis of those political ambassadors in using government facilities and spending government money?

If the Union of Foreign Service Officers pushes through with their plan to goto court to once and for all settle the issue, Aquino might find himself on shaky ground. Will write more about this later.

Continue readingRomulo pre-empted Malacañang on retention of envoys?

Unifors: Let’s work triple times to make up for incompetent foreign secretary

Published by Ellen on June 27, 2010

Members of the Union of Foreign Service Officers said they would have to work three times harder with the reported retention of Alberto Romulo as foreign secretary.

In a text message, UNIFORS said, “First faux pas of P Noy. We need to work triple time to make up for such an incompetent secretary of foreign affairs.”

Highlights of Inquirer’s report on retention of Romulo:

-Romulo said Aquino did not give a time limit to his tenure in the DFA. The statement of Ed Malaya, FDA spokesman, talked of six years.
– Liberal Party faction in the Aquino camp recommended former Trade Secretary Johnny Santos, who was also former president and CEO of Nestle Philippines. (I understand after Santos had said “Yes”, it was taken back and he was offered the position of ambassador to the U.S. Santos has not said “yes” to the second offer.)
– The Aquino sisters, specifically Maria Elena “Ballsy” Cruz, who has been helping out the search committee, stood up for Romulo.

Romulo is the first of Gloria Arroyo’s cabinet member that Aquino has retained. It’s not known whether there would be more.

Unifors has earlier issued statements asking President-elect Benigno Aquino Jr. not to retain Romulo citing his incompetence.

Continue readingUnifors: Let’s work triple times to make up for incompetent foreign secretary

Honorable exit for Romulo on July 1

Published by Ellen on June 22, 2010

President-elect Benigno Aquino III’s appointment of Human Rights Commissioner Leila de Lima as justice secretary is an inspired choice.

Foreign Service officers are hoping and praying that it would be the same case for the secretary of foreign affairs. Romulo has been a disaster as foreign secretary the past six years and it would be a tragedy to let him stay even for a day once Gloria Arroyo is out of Malacañang.

By the nature of their work, diplomats do not engage in protest actions. They are supposedly the epitome of tact, discretion and subtlety. But concerned about persistent talks that the incompetent foreign secretary, Alberto Romulo, would be retained, the Union of Foreign Service Officers headed by Vicky Bataclan yesterday came out with an open letter to the president-elect telling him of their sentiments about Romulo.

Continue readingHonorable exit for Romulo on July 1

Our thanks

Published by Ellen on March 31, 2010

Former Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo
Former Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo
by Roberto R. Romulo

Filipino World View
The Philippine Star

The nation owes a debt of gratitude to three individuals: Delia Albert, Domingo L. Siazon Jr. and Antonio “Tony Boy” Cojuangco. Both Ambassadors Albert and Siazon were career foreign service officers who became Secretary of Foreign Affairs. Ms. Albert (a replacement has been announced) and Jun Siazon (co-terminus with President Arroyo) are ambassadors to Germany and Japan, respectively. They have been outstanding ambassadors. Whoever replaces them will have a hard act to follow.

On the other hand, Tony Boy has been chairman of the Museum of the Filipino People since the time of President Fidel V. Ramos. As chairman for the last 12 years, he has been exemplary in the management of the museum and sustained in his financial support. His leadership will be sorely missed by everyone who, as I do, value this important institution.

Continue readingOur thanks

Following the leader

Published by Ellen on February 2, 2010

Update: Martir,Preztosa and Paez were all confirmed.

Gloria Arroyo’s penchant for midnight deals seems to have rubbed on with some members of the bureaucracy.

Victoria Bataclan, president of the Union of Foreign Service Officers wrote to Senate President Juan Ponce-Enrile in his capacity as chair of the Commission on Appointments to convey the grievance of the members of foreign service corps, this time not about another political appointee in violation of foreign service law but about another career foreign service officer, Patricia Ann Paez.

The CA is scheduled to meet today.

Brig. Gen. Jonathan Martir and Brig. Gen. Romeo Prestoza are also among those whose promotion to Major General are for confirmation today.

Martir’s name was included at the last minute. There is something wrong here because Martir is due to retire March 5. There’s a rule in the military that one cannot be promoted within one year to retirement.

We are told that a very influential member of the CA is pushing for Martir’s confirmation even if it’s in against the law because a security agency identified iwht the general supplies the guards for his son’s business. Talk of ethics!

Prestoza is lucky because Sen. Panfilo Lacson won’t be here to block his promotion. Prestoza, it will be recalled, was the one who enticed Mancao to implicate Lacson in the Dacer-Corbito double murder case. Success!

Paez, who holds the rank of career minister and is currently detailed in Malacañang as special assistant, is being promoted to Chief of Mission I. If promoted she would qualify for an ambassadorial assignment.

Continue readingFollowing the leader