Barican may be appointed envoy, Siazon reveals

Outgoing Presidential Spokesman Fernando Barican may be appointed as ambassador, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon.

Siazon told reporters yesterday in an interview that "they've been talking about it," referring to Malacañang officials when asked if it was possible for Barican to get assigned as an envoy.

"But it's really up to President Estrada," Siazon said.

He said there were two foreign posts still vacant but he refused to say where, saying, "we do not disclose that in public" and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) "is not an employment agency."

Siazon does not know if the other ambassadorial post would be reserved for Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta, who is reportedly also on the way out.

At present, there are already 27 political-appointee ambassadors, including the mother of Sen. Anna Dominique "Nikki" Coseteng, Alice Marquez Lim-Coseteng.

The President may fill up to 49 percent of the total ambassadorial posts with political appointees.

Siazon said there were moves to limit that number to 30 percent to give career diplomats more opportunities to get plum posts such as Washington, New York and Tokyo.

The trend now, according to DFA officials, is to professionalize the foreign service since their officers could boast of up to 20 to 25 years of training.

"We have to develop a strong career corps," said the officials who asked not to be named.

The officials expressed hope that someone from the department would replace Ambassador to Washington Ernesto Maceda, who already has announced his intention to run again for the Senate.

Maceda recommended Sen. Francisco Tatad, Senate committee on foreign relations chairman, to take his place.