Update: Raissa said Ambassador Rigoberto Tiglao wrote her a “nasty” letter. She said Tiglao updated the Philippine embassy in Greece today. He explained why he…
Making life worth living.
Update: Raissa said Ambassador Rigoberto Tiglao wrote her a “nasty” letter. She said Tiglao updated the Philippine embassy in Greece today. He explained why he…
Anytime this week, the Union of Foreign Service Officers, will bring to court the issue of the extension of the service of political ambassadors appointed by Gloria Arroyo.
It would be the first suit against officials of the Aquino administration. Members of the UNIFORS are not happy doing this but they have to inorder to restore the rule of law in the department.
The foreign service suffered immensely with Gloria Arroyo’s utter contempt of the law implemented dutifully by her (and now Aquino’s) Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo. Foreign service officers had great hopes that under the leadership of President Aquino, professionalism would return and department would regain its premier role in the government.
It is this yearning for professional foreign service that they are bringing the issue of the extension of the service of political ambassadors to court.
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.
The order of Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo extending the tour of duty of political ambassadors appointed by Gloria Arroyo for another three months is fraught with legal landmines:
1. If it’s his order, what ‘s his authority to extend the services of an ambassador whose appointment has expired. Under the Constiution and in the Foreign Service Act,it’s only the president who can appoint ambassadors.
2. The President, on the other hand, has no power to extend a terminated contract. He can only nominate or appoint. Now, has he nominated or re-appointed these ambassadors?
3. If he has issued new appointments to these ambassadors, there is a process to make the assumption of the position legal. They have to go through confirmation by the Commission on Appointments, get an agreement from the host country and present their credentials. It’s doubtful if these political ambassadors complied with the process.
4. If their extension of services has no legal basis, will they be getting salaries? How about their use of embassy facilities? Will that not constitute usurpation of authority and malversation?
Dapat kasi magaling ang foreign secretary.