US ambassador to end tour of duty next month

MANILA, Philippines - Outgoing US Ambassador Kristie Kenney will end her tour of duty and return to the United States in January after serving as Washington’s top diplomat in the country for more than three years.

“I’m leaving in about six weeks so it’s kind of sad to go,” Kenney said yesterday over radio dzRH.

Kenney will go on leave to spend time with her ailing mother.

“About four to six months’ leave to spend time with my 86-year-old mother who is very sick, then go back to the State Department. We’ll see after that,” she said.

She stressed that the US remains committed to the development of Mindanao despite the massacre of 57 people including journalists in Maguindanao and the declaration of martial law that was lifted on Saturday.

“Yes ( we are still interested in development projects). You don’t walk away from your friends,” she said.

She said US development projects in Maguindanao, including infrastructure and solar dryers, are temporarily on hold “while assessing and waiting for the situation to calm down and normalcy is established.”

Although a new US ambassador will be in the country when the election is held in May next year, Kenney said election fever is already running high and voters should study the candidates they will vote for.

“This is an exciting opportunity, and as I told you I wish I could stay for the elections… But I have to get home to my mother. The Filipinos have to pick the leadership of your nation for the next several years so I would say the important thing to do is for the media to explain who are the candidates, how to use the new equipment (automation), the training and for you people voting for candidates – who are they, what do they think, what do they like – so you got a lot of young first-time voters to cast their vote right,” she added.

US President Barack Obama designated last month Harry Thomas Jr. as the new ambassador to Manila.

Thomas’ nomination, however, still has to be confirmed by the US Senate.

“My successor is one of my favorite American diplomats. He has to be confirmed by our Senate. Our rules are very clear so I think he’ll probably be here maybe about March or so but he’s a very serious diplomat,” Kenney said.

Thomas is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service who served most recently as director general of the Foreign Service and director of human resources.  

He previously served as a special assistant to the secretary and executive secretary of the department. He joined the Foreign Service in 1984 and served as US ambassador to Bangladesh from 2003 to 2005. He also served in the White House as Director for South Asia at the National Security Council from 2001 to 2002.  

His other postings include New Delhi, India; Harare, Zimbabwe; Kaduna, Nigeria; and Lima, Peru. He has served as Senior Watch Officer, Deputy Director, and Director of the State Department Operations Center; Special Assistant to the Under Secretary for Political Affairs; and Staff Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for African Affairs. 

Thomas holds a bachelors’ degree from the College of the Holy Cross.

Kenney, the first female US ambassador to Manila, was sworn in by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in March 2006 after she was confirmed by the US Senate on Feb. 17. She arrived in Manila in March.

She said it has been an extraordinary honor and privilege to serve as Washington’s top diplomat in the country for more than three and a half years, and working with Filipinos from all walks of life has been one of her most memorable experiences. Diplomatic sources said Kenney is getting another ambassadorial post this year in South America.