Ople bids Senate adieu

In what appeared to be a prelude to his assumption of the post of foreign affairs secretary, opposition Sen. Blas Ople sounded yesterday as if he were bidding the Senate press corps goodbye, saying he "would like to maintain close links" with the journalists.

Ople, chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, said he would make a "major announcement" between Wednesday and Friday next week, by which time all his political consultations would have been completed.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo confirmed for the first time yesterday that she had offered Ople the post of foreign affairs secretary as early as December last year.

But when asked if she would appoint Ople, the President dodged the politically divisive issue by saying a special presidential search committee is still screening nominees to the post.

Ople, in his meeting with the press, said yesterday, "There is an urgent need to restore civility in our political system and to eliminate the gridlock in the decision-making process so that the country can advance on all fronts."

He said he would consider serving as a bridge of reconciliation between the forces of the administration and opposition.

Allies of President Arroyo have opposed her possible selection of Ople to replace Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., who quit as foreign affairs secretary last July 15.

A government official present during the crucial July 15 meeting between Mrs. Arroyo and the Kongreso ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kompil) had told The STAR that the President addressed particular objections raised by Kompil against plans to appoint Ople as new foreign affairs secretary.

Kompil is an alliance of people’s organizations and non-government organizations which are supportive of the President.

Kompil leaders were told that the issue of appointing Ople to the post "should be viewed in a larger perspective, higher than the DFA but at the Senate itself," the Palace official has said.

"Would you rather see the administration party at the Senate losing out to the likes of Senators Loi Estrada and Ping Lacson of the opposition?" the Palace source quoted the President as having emphasized to the Kompil leaders.

The widely perceived imminent appointment of Ople to the Cabinet has been linked by political analysts to efforts by the President to solve the Senate impasse brought about by the bolting of Sen. John Osmeña from the administration bloc.

Before ending his weekly press briefing, Ople however said that it was not yet a farewell because he needs to consult with Bulacan political leaders from different parties before making a final decision.

But Ople said one out of three personal mails he has received had urged him to accept the post of DFA secretary once it is formally offered by Mrs. Arroyo.

The President temporarily assumed on Monday the post of foreign secretary following the resignation of Vice President Teofisto Guingona which took effect July 15. A special presidential committee is screening nominees to the post.

Guingona’s departure was fueled by his "honest differences" with Mrs. Arroyo over policy issues, notably the redeployment of US troops in the country via the joint RP-US Balikatan 02-1 military exercise which ends this month.

Since February, US special forces have been training Philippine troops in Basilan how to better fight the Abu Sayyaf, which had been linked to the al-Qaeda terrorist network of fugitive Saudi billionaire Osama bin Laden.

Last year, shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Mrs. Arroyo threw her support to the US-led global war against terrorism.

Ople is expected to meet today with Bulacan political leaders who were wary about the December 2001 offer from Mrs. Arroyo. The delegation will be composed of Bulacan Gov. Josefina dela Cruz, provincial board members, and mayors of several municipalities led by their president, Calumpit Mayor Ramon Pagdanganan.

Ople said the Bulacan political leaders were asking him: "Why join a sinking ship?"

The Federated Associations of Manpower Exporters Inc. has urged Ople to accept the post, saying it needs him so that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will evolve as "an effective ally and voice of overseas Filipinos."

The federation lauded Ople’s work in the Senate, notably his principal sponsorship of the International Migrant Workers Act and the absentee voting bill that will enable about 7 million overseas Filipino workers in 140 countries to vote.

"The leaders and members of our sector pray that you will accept the position being offered by the administration, albeit informally. Your acceptance would undoubtedly boost the morale of millions of Filipinos working and living overseas," the federation said in a full-page advertisement in major newspaper yesterday.

No need for Senate ratification of MLSA - Ople

Ople said he does not "foresee" at this stage the need to submit the Mutual Logistics and Support Agreement (MLSA) to the Senate for ratification because "it falls squarely within the broad framework" of the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951.

"There is no need for a new political framework or treaty. There is no way the Constitution will be transgressed," he said.

He however said he will give a final comment after he has received a final draft of the MLSA. Officials from the departments of justice, defense and foreign affairs are still working on a draft agreement.

Ople said he hopes an agreement will be ready when US Secretary of State Colin Powell visits the Philippines in early August.

At Malacañang, the President made the confirmation of a December 2001 offer to Ople during a luncheon with a select group of journalists, including those from The STAR.

The President said she has confidence in Ople’s qualifications and capability to head the DFA.

On July 9, Ople strongly implied he was ready to become the next foreign affairs secretary after fulfilling a promise to his anti-administration colleagues that he will vote with them for a new Senate majority when congressional session resumes July 22.

Malacañang has reportedly sent emissaries to confer with Ople while he was in the US to work out the terms of reference of his acceptance of the DFA post.

If Ople were to accept the post, he has to resign his Senate seat. His resignation will return to the administration control of the Senate via a slim 12-11 majority.

Meanwhile, former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis Singson supports the appointment of Ople as the next secretary of foreign affairs.

In a statement, Singson said "politics is addition and not division and it means getting those who are qualified, those with exceptional talents and those with obvious good track record and accomplishments irrespective of political affiliations."

Singson said Ople "has a mind of his own" and has the professional expertise to head the DFA as shown by his stint as president of the International Labor Organization.