CA confirms DFA chief

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo led the list of personalities confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday, the last day of hearings before Congress goes on Lenten break.

After two hours of questioning during his confirmation hearing yesterday, Romulo was "highly recommended" by the committee on foreign affairs chaired by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago.

Santiago said Romulo "acquitted himself commendably" as the committee members questioned him on various issues, including Philippine-United States relations, appointments of ambassadors and the services rendered to Filipinos overseas.

Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who admitted during the hearing that he considered Romulo a personal friend, questioned Romulo about the apparent deterioration of RP-US relations since the Philippine government’s withdrawal of its humanitarian contingent from Iraq last year prompted by the hostage taking of a Filipino worker.

Romulo said relations between the two countries remained stable, but admitted that improvement is needed.

In earlier reports, Enrile revealed that his US visa was canceled by the US Embassy in Manila for reasons unknown to him.

Romulo said the situation has already been rectified through his own efforts with the US Ambassador Francis Ricciardone.

He was also questioned about the crackdown on undocumented workers in Sabah, Malaysia, a significant number of them Filipinos.

Romulo admitted there was no protest made on the part of the Philippine government even though the country still claims ownership of the island.

Commission of Filipinos Overseas (CFO) executive director Jose Mulano was also present during the hearing, and opposed the appointment of Romulo.

Mulano criticized Romulo for allegedly calling him a "dictator" when the CFO was still under the DFA.

Romulo, however, denied ever calling Mulano a dictator.

He explained he merely said Mulano was harsh for not issuing his employees their representation and transportation allowance.

During the same hearing, the CA confirmed the appointments of Ambassadors Elizabeth Buensuceso (Laos), Acmad Omar (Oman, Jordan) and Delia Albert (Germany).

Prior to her appointment as ambassador, Buensuceso was executive director of the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Policy.

Omar, the lone non-career diplomat among the three candidates, was a former regional director of Lanao province.

Albert, on the other hand, used to be foreign secretary and currently holds the positions of the presidential adviser on multilateral cooperation and development and mineral resources.

In a related development, Malacañang expressed confidence that the appointments of acting Interior Secretary Angelo Reyes and Armed Forces chief Gen. Efren Abu would be confirmed by the CA.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said there would be no need for President Arroyo to reappoint the two officials despite their having been bypassed by the CA since their ad interim appointments are still in effect even if Congress goes on recess.

"We still have this window of opportunity for them to be confirmed, that is from April to June," Bunye said, referring to when Congress resumes session.

"We hope the CA will a make a fair and objective assessment of the nominees based on their credentials and track record."

The CA bypassed Reyes’ appointment on Tuesday, saying they did not want to distract him from resolving the foiled jailbreak try by Abu Sayyaf inmates in Taguig City.

Abu’s appointment was also bypassed the same day owing to allegations hurled against him by Army Col. Oscar Mapalo.

Reyes was appointed in July last year while Abu assumed office in October.

CA co-chairman Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay said, however, that according to the Constitution, the President must reappoint the two officials before Congress adjourns this week.

He said Article 7, Section 16, paragraph 2 of the Constitution states that an ad interim appointment expires or lapses when Congress goes on recess.

As for Abu, he said the CA decided not to rush his appointment so that the allegations and counter-allegations between the AFP chief and Mapalo could be clarified.

Mapalo accused Abu of negative bias, saying his promotion papers had been shelved by the AFP chief; Abu, on the other hand, alleged that Mapalo forged some of his credentials.

He said the CA also stumbled on the incompetence of some AFP officials during the hearing since the military board had been working on the promotion of Mapalo but failed to uncover the alleged forging of credentials.

Nonetheless, Pichay expressed optimism that both would be confirmed.

Meanwhile, also confirmed yesterday by the CA were Commission on Audit commissioner Reynaldo Villar and five officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, namely Brig. Gen. Juanito Cabayao Jr., Colonels Emmanuel Mendoza, Alfonso Evangelista and Durena Villegas, and Capt. Manuel Natalio Abinuman.

Former Philippine Economic Zone Authority chair Lilia Bautista, who was appointed ambassador to Brussels, Belgium, was not subjected to the hearing yesterday due to lack of time, as some CA members intended to subject her to lengthy questioning. — With a report from Paolo Romero