Lobbying continues for DFA post

Intense lobbying for the still vacant post of secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) continues, with several position papers being received by the Malacañang search committee.

As this developed, the last of the appointees of Vice President and former DFA chief Teofisto Guingona formally bowed out of office yesterday.

President Arroyo has accepted the resignation of Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Merlin Magallona, who will be replaced by Philippine Ambassador to Kuala Lumpur Jose Brillantes.

The office of Undersecretary for Policy Lauro Baja Jr. said yesterday it has turned over to the search panel several resolutions that urged Mrs. Arroyo to appoint the career diplomat as secretary.

The resolutions came from the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., Philippine Ambassadors Association, the DFA Personnel Association and the DFA Rank and File Association.

Sen. Robert Barbers said he would support the appointment of Baja should the appointment of leading nominee, Sen. Blas Ople, fail to push through.

Barbers, whose only daughter married Baja’s youngest son last June, said the DFA executive is as qualified as Ople because of his experience as a diplomat.

Sources at the DFA said the name of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Domingo Siazon has also cropped up as a possible candidate for the vacant post.

The President announced Brillantes’ appointment during a teleconference with the country’s ambassadors. He has been recalled from Malaysia and was expected to arrive last night.

In choosing Brillantes as undersecretary for migrant workers, Mrs. Arroyo cited the diplomat’s experience in handling consular affairs.

Brillantes served as labor undersecretary in 1992. Previously, he was also senior labor attaché in Washington, Ottawa, Bonn and Tokyo.

He was also one of the authors of Republic Act 8042, or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act.

Earlier, the President accepted the resignation of Undersecretary for International and Economic Relations Sixto Roxas.

Roxas and Magallona, both recommendees of Guingona, tendered their resignations on July 10, or eight days after Guingona announced his own resignation. – With Marichu Villanueva