There’s a brewing tension in what is traditionally a sedate world of foreign service that threatens to blow into the face Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo.
Last Friday, Assistant Secretary Victoria Bataclan was told that she has been relieved as assistant secretary for European Affairs. No reason was given.
The Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Ed Malaya gave the lame excuse that just like the military foreign service personnel are given different assignments in the course of their careers.
Of course, Malaya has to defend his superior. But even he knows that Bataclan’s relief is not a routine movement because she has not been a year in a position that is usually has a three-year term. The fact that the replacement, Leslie Baja, is in acting capacity shows that it was not part of the regular personnel rotation.
What is easy to believe is that Bataclan’s relief is Romulo’s retaliation to the letter she, as president of the 300-strong Union of Foreign Service Officers wrote to Gloria Arroyo last October 1 protesting the appointment of Foreign Undersecretary for Migrant Affairs Esteban Conejos, Jr as Philippine representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
In that letter, Bataclan expressed the collective complaint of the career corps that the provision in the Foreign Service Act that majority of the heads of embassies and mission should come from their ranks is being violated with so many political appointees, the latest of whom is Conejos.
Aside from the Constitutional violation, the Unifors cited a compelling reason why sending Conejos to Geneva now would be a big mistake. They said, it “will burden the Government with an additional expenditure in the range of $70,000 for an appointee who will stay less than eight (8) months at post.”
“Such kind of expenditure may be seen as grossly insensitive to the current mood of channeling all available resources towards relief and rebuilding for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy,” Unifors said..
The $70,000 is the amount it would cost the DFA to transport Conejos to Switzerland.
Since Conejos is a political appointee, he would be co-terminus with Arroyo, who would be stepping down on June 30, 2010. This is a case of a “midnight” appointment!
What could Conejos accomplish in Geneva in less than seven months except have a grand Swiss vacation. DFA grapevine talks of a junior officer in Geneva who can’t wait to have him there by her side.
DFA has a regulation that those who are past 62 years old are not supposed to be posted abroad because to be effective, an ambassador should stay in a post for at least three years.
If a career ambassador is assigned to Geneva to replace Linda Basilio, who would be retiring on Nov. 19, he would be serving there for a minimum of three years regardless of who becomes president.
Romulo, who has been pushing hard for Conejos’ appointment, was in Geneva when Malacañang received the Unifor’s letter. A reliable source said Malacañang called up Romulo about it.
What did Romulo do about it? He instructed the DFA press office to justify Conejos appointment extolling his qualifications, etc. etc. But that is not the point.
A source said despite, or maybe because of Arroyo’s call, Romulo immediately issued a travel order for Conejos, who is reportedly taking up French lesson in preparation for the UN post.
Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Malacanang has withdrawn Conejos’ appointment. He said he has in his possession the assignment and travel orders.
Malacañang said Arroyo gives weight to Romulo’s recommendation in foreign affairs matters. If Romulo thinks it’s a statement of confidence, it’s not.
It’s a reminder of his accountability for everything, including the Conejos controversy, that is happening in his department.
I wish trouble at DFA will result in Romulo’s ouster. DFA employes and career officials deserve a head who looks after and fights for them, not abuse or sell them.
What is easy to believe is that Bataclan’s relief is Romulo’s retaliation to the letter
Very easy to believe indeed! Vindictiveness seems to be the cornerstone of this administration.
04 Nov 2009
GEEZZZZ…… That’s what I have been posting before, the problem with the DFA Officers and employees, most of them kanyan-kanyang sipsipan, pag hindi ka na malakas sa naka upo, e galit naman sila sa mga malalakas.
Ganyan naman ang buhay sa DFA, parang gulong, minsan sa ibabaw ka minsan naman sa ilalim ka.
Pana-panahon lang yan.
prans
Midnight appointments to juicy positions. Then there’s the midnight sale of government assets to window-dress the year-end fiscal figures.
What can I say, it’s Midnight Madness!
From Manuel Q. Bondad:
Occasionally, hard to find newsbreakers, like the Geneva-appointment fiasco,I forward to my brothers having been away for decades.Unaware that Vicky Bataclan and husband lived in Geneva when I shared the news , my brother Delfino,an alumnus of the U.P. responded.
Here’s a portion of the letter:
I have not met the couple , but their courage is exemplary and in fact much-needed these days,must have been nurtured in U.P.,and their parents are models too.
But Mr. Cornejos whom I do not know needs our sympathy too,and his family are victims of a regime devoid of respect for dignity. And the foreign affairs secretary seem to be oblivious of what is happening in his turf.GMA just drops human beings like a hot potato,as in Ms. Bataclan and Mr. Cornejos.
Kung lehitimo sana at hindi peke ang pagkahalal ni Gloria bilang lider ng bayan, maari pa siguro siyang makakuha ng simpatiya mula sa publiko.
Dala ng pagkagahaman at salamin ng kagaspangan, ang bawat indibidwal na makabayan pero balakid sa kanyang personal na interes ay nanganganib masipa sa puwesto.
Bagamat may batas na kung meron din lamang ‘kwalipikadong’ alagad mula sa foreign service corps ay dito na manggagaling at pagkukunan ng mga itatalaga sa mga bakanteng puwesto, ang sensibilidad nito ay gusto kong ihain sa isang debate para mapag-usapan.
Bakit nga ba mistulang libre at eksemted sa public accountability ang foreign service personnel?
Ang isang mayor, halimbawa, kahit na paano may tsansang masipa sa puwesto sa susunod na halalan kung ayaw na ng taongbayan sa kanya.Pero sa kaso ng foreign service personnel, kahit abusado’t isinusuka na ng mismong mga kababayang OFW, walang tsansang mapalitan basta’t malapit sa kusina.
Ang punto ko, bakit yata lampas pa sa espesyal ang mga ito gayon hindi naman sila pinili at halal ng bayan?