GMA extends term of Ambassador Gaa

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Arroyo has extended the tour of duty “until further notice” of Ambassador Willy Gaa, who would have retired last month.

The 62-year-old Gaa, a career diplomat, squelched rumors that certain high-ranking Philippine government officials were sending out feelers to the Bush administration for a possible imposition of martial law to quell communist infiltration of protest rallies against Mrs. Arroyo.

“There is no such thing,” he said.

However, Gaa told The STAR in an interview in his office here the political noise in the Philippines is being closely monitored by the US embassy in Manila.

“It’s one of the responsibilities of the US Embassy to monitor the situation,” he said. “Actually, it’s a normal routine by the US Embassy.”

Generally, the US government’s attitude toward the administration has not changed despite being under fire over alleged kickbacks in the $329-million national broadband network contract with Chinese firm ZTE Corp., Gaa said.

Gaa took over as ambassador on July 25, 2006 and presented his credentials to US President George W. Bush on Dec. 8, 2006.

“So technically, I’ve been here only over a year,” he said.

Earlier, the names of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo were floated as possible replacement for Gaa.

“I’ve received written communications (from the DFA) that I am being extended until further notice,” he told The STAR.

Gaa, who rose through the ranks, has been assigned in various foreign posting as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to China (from November 2003 to November 2006); Australia (January 2002 to November 2003), Libya (1992-1997), among others.

Last year, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney wrote to the Philippine government, through then National Economic and Development Authority director-general Romulo Neri, seeking clarification on the bidding procedures followed in the awarding of the NBN contract, where Arescom, an American telecom firm, was one of the losing bidders.