RP consul in NY named Palace protocol officer

New York consul-general Lingling Lacanlale was appointed as the new chief of protocol at Malacañang, The STAR learned yesterday.

Lacanlale, who figured prominently in assisting relatives of Filipino-American victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, swaps places with outgoing Palace protocol chief Cecille Rebong.

Rebong bade her formal farewell in Malacañang yesterday and officially turned over her duties to Lacanlale.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo told Palace reporters yesterday she will choose from among the five deputies of the late Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas Ople whom to replace him at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The five undersecretaries are Franklin Ebdalin, Romeo Brillantes, Delia Albert, Sonia Brady and Rafael Seguiz.

Mrs. Arroyo temporarily assumed the post of foreign affairs chief in a concurrent capacity after the demise of Ople.

The President has ordered a state funeral for Ople, who will be buried on Sunday at the Libingan ng mga Bayani at Fort Bonifacio in Makati City.

Meanwhile. Mrs. Arroyo said she would consult with former trade and industry secretary Manuel Roxas II before she announces her choice as the new DTI secretary.

The STAR learned yesterday from three business leaders that Mrs. Arroyo has also consulted them on the possible appointment of Cesar Purisima to the DTI post.

Purisima’s appointment reportedly got the vote of confidence of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr., Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) president Donald Dee, and Philippines Inc. president Miguel Varela.

In related developments, Mrs. Arroyo yesterday approved the request of Presidential Management Staff Silvestre Afable to go on indefinite leave from the Cabinet starting Jan. 1.

Afable said he needs to go on vacation to prepare for his job as the head of the government panel in the forthcoming peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In a radio interview, Mrs. Arroyo also revealed that she offered the post of justice secretary to deputy House majority leader for Visayas, Iloilo Rep. Raul Gonzalez to replace outgoing Secretary Simeon Datumanong, who will resign later this month to run for Congres.