Mussomeli ends 3-year stint in RP

Concluding his three-year tour of duty in the Philippines, United States Embassy Chargé d’ Affaires Joseph Mussomeli left the country yesterday as retired US ambassador Darryl Johnson formally took his place.

Mussomeli and his family departed yesterday morning after his nomination as the next ambassador to Cambodia was approved by the US Congress.

Johnson, who retired as US ambassador to Thailand last January after a distinguished career in the US foreign service, replaced Mussomeli as acting chargé d’affaires effective yesterday.

Previously, Johnson was deputy assistant state secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, responsible for China and Mongolia. He was also the first US ambassador to Lithuania from 1991 to 1994, and later the director of the American Institute in Taiwan from 1996 to 1999.

Johnson’s other overseas postings include Moscow (1974-1977), Beijing (1984-1987) and Warsaw (1996-1988-1991). In Washington, Johnson’s previous positions include that of People’s Republic of China desk officer from 1979 to 1981, special assistant to the undersecretary for political affairs from 1982 to 1984, and political adviser to the chief of naval operations from 1999 to 2000.

Johnson is the acting chargé d’affaires for the next two months until Washington appoints an envoy to replace former ambassador Francis Ricciardone, who was appointed envoy to Egypt.

Malacañang, on the other hand, thanked Mussomeli for his "unsolicited advice" to President Arroyo.

Mussomeli said the the other day the President would have to make sure that political issues were not "swept under the rug" as she faced an impeachment case and persistent calls for her resignation over allegations of poll-rigging and links to jueteng.

But Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo does not really need Mussomeli’s reminder since she "will really do what she has to do so the truth will come out. That is why she is preparing her legal team to deal with the complaints against her before the House of Representatives."

The President also ordered the creation of a truth commission and said it should investigate not only allegations that she cheated in last year’s polls, but also uncover the identities of those behind moves to oust her from office.

Mussomeli bid farewell to Mrs. Arroyo Friday and disclosed that he and his wife planned to adopt a Filipino boy "so we will be bringing a little bit of the Philippines with us." He said his wife and daughter were born in the Philippines.

While he declined to discuss what he and the President spoke about, Mussomeli said they had a friendly and enjoyable meeting in which "we just thanked each other broadly for the good cooperation between our two countries."

He said he and his wife would miss the Philippines and would definitely return for a visit.

"We met and made a lot of friends. We made a lot of successes between our two countries. Yes, we’ll be sad and happy at the same time," Mussomeli said. "I think we will be back (quite) frequently. The Philippines is addictive for both my wife and me. We’ll be back."

Mussomeli said it was "heartbreaking" to leave the country, which has been a home to him and his family, but expressed confidence that the relationship between the US and the Philippines would remain strong.

"And it has been a wonderful three years. It is really like leaving home. It has been both good and bad. It is heartbreaking to leave because we really feel this is our home," Mussomeli said.

"We also feel this is our home because we could argue and fight and it does not really matter in the long run because it is like a family. Even the note verbale, it does not matter. It really does not," he added.

In an interview, Mussomeli told The STAR that the note verbale handed to him by Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Ariel Abadilla last June at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) did not strain relations between the two countries.

He had been summoned by the DFA and handed the note verbale because of the Philippine government’s displeasure over a statement he made in an interview.

The outspoken Mussomeli had warned that Mindanao could become the next Afghanistan if authorities continued to neglect serious issues such as porous borders in the south, extreme poverty, lack of educational opportunities, unemployment problems and the presence of the terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

Mussomeli said he does not regret airing his views on Mindanao and pointed out his comments were made out of concern for the problems in the south.

Washington, Mussomeli said, has not changed its assessment of Mindanao because the same problems still exist although the Philippine government is now focusing more on the problems in the south.

"But what I’m going to miss are you guys (in the media), who are special. What do I do without the media?" Mussomeli joked with reporters.

He expressed concern during a briefing with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines at the Manila Hotel last Monday over the current political controversy, which he refused to term a "crisis."

Unlike Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo who said during the Manila Overseas Press Club Diplomatic Night last July 18 that the "worst is over for President Arroyo," Mussomeli stressed the President has been through the worst part of the political turmoil but the next months will be crucial for her to implement social, economic and political reform.

Despite doubts regarding the President’s moral ascendancy and the drop in her approval ratings, Mussomeli expressed optimism that Mrs. Arroyo can make a turnaround in public opinion if she immediately implements reforms to address the political controversy.

"The focus ought not to be on either retaining or attaining power but on the Filipino people and their welfare. The Philippines remains on that threshold of greatness which I last saw in 1986," he added.

After paying Romulo a farewell visit at the DFA last Wednesday, Mussomeli said Washington maintains high hopes that the President, who has been very assertive and straightforward about the urgent reforms needed, will hurdle the political turmoil.

He was joined by his wife, Sharon, US embassy political counselor Scott Bellard and Johnson, who was welcomed by Romulo.

Asked about the surveys showing a significant drop in the President’s popularity, Mussomeli said Mrs. Arroyo remains the President and it is her right and duty to move forward, whatever the cost in public opinion.

Mussomeli became emotional when Romulo conferred upon him the Order of Sikatuna, with the rank of Lakan, for his key role in the initiation, signing and implementation of various bilateral agreements in the areas of military reform, law enforcement, economic development and science and technology.

"Mussomeli played an important role in steering the RP-US alliance through several critical episodes in our relationship and made a significant contribution to the enhancement off RP and US bilateral relations, most importantly to the promotion and sustainment of peace and development in Mindanao," Romulo said.

Mussomeli assumed his post as deputy chief of mission at the US embassy on Aug. 5, 2002. It was during his term that Mrs. Arroyo flew to Washington in May 2003 and US President George W. Bush visited Manila in October 2003.

Washington maintained that its role is to be "a supportive ally of this country and to the Filipino people and that means the US government supports the constitutional process and it is opposed to any process that would be against the Constitution or the rule of law."

Mussomeli said Mrs. Arroyo’s handling of the difficult political situation is an indication that RP-US relations should remain strong and that Washington should continue supporting and giving assistance to the Philippine government because democracy is still working well in the country.