Commission on Appointments defers Yano's appointment anew, but gives nod to Roque

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Appointments (CA) deferred anew the confirmation of former Armed Forces chief Alexander Yano as ambassador to Brunei but gave the nod to Labor Secretary Marianito Roque.

Sen. Richard Gordon questioned the appointment of a retired military official to the diplomatic post, pointing out that there are many career foreign service officers equally fit to become ambassadors.

The CA confirmed six ambassadors and nine other diplomats.

Yano was earlier left out after former senator Ernesto Maceda and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada objected to his appointment as ambassador.

Gordon said yesterday that the government should give priority to career officers over retired military men in appointing ambassadors to represent the country abroad.

During the CA hearing, Gordon said he wanted to review the records of Yano before confirmation.

“I nominated his confirmation as (Armed Forces) chief of staff. But this time I am questioning the policy because it smacks of accommodation, it defeats meritocracy and demoralizes the bureaucracy,” Gordon said.

Yano retired early, relinquishing his post as AFP chief 44 days before reaching his mandatory retirement age on June 13.

Gordon pointed out that when ambassadorial posts are given to retired military generals, it would set a precedent to the detriment of civilian career officials.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said he would ask the CA members to consider Yano’s appointment.

Pangasinan Rep. Conrad Estrella III also said Yano should be confirmed because of his familiarity with Islamic culture, having been assigned in Mindanao while in military service.

Estrella said Yano could easily adapt in Brunei, which is a predominantly Muslim country.

Estrella defended Yano’s appointment, saying the retired general can look after Philippine interests very well as ambassador to Brunei.

But those who opposed Yano’s confirmation said his appointment was just a reward for retiring early.

Yano was succeeded by Gen. Victor Ibrado who is set to retire next year to be succeeded by Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit in 2010.

Bangit had served as commander of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) in charge of protecting President Arroyo and members of her immediate family.

Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, chair of the CA committee on foreign relations, said Yano would have his last chance to be confirmed on Wednesday before the sine die adjournment of Congress.

Santiago said Maceda raised a valid point with respect to the apparently disproportionate number of retired military officers getting appointed.

These were not necessarily appointments to the Cabinet, Maceda said, but “it appears that there are so many of them.”

“The civil service is practically crawling with military retirees and that is because their retirement age is very low. They are compelled to retire at 56. Naturally they are not ready to retire and unfortunately what every president of the country has done is to appoint them to positions in the civilian service,” Santiago said.

While Yano is having a difficult time convincing the CA to confirm his appointment, Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo, chairman of the CA labor committee, endorsed Roque’s confirmation as Labor Secretary.

Dimaporo cited the achievements of Roque in government service.

Among the ambassadors whose appointments were confirmed yesterday were chiefs of mission class two Teresita Barsana for Portugal; Helen Barber for Myanmar; Grace Princesa for United Arab Emirates; Cresente Relacion (Qatar); Isaias Begonia (Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova); and Ana Ines de Sequera-Ugarte for Spain and Andorra.

The others are Ruth Prado, Alejandro Mosquera, Bayani Mercado as chiefs of mission Class I; Monina Callangan-Rueca, Carlos Sorreta, Eleanor Jaucian as chiefs of mission Class II; Mary Anne Padua and Julius Caesar Flores as career ministers; and Mark Francis Hamoy, foreign service officer Class II.