'No breach of protocol in Mar's attendance at UN assembly'

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Mission to the UN yesterday denied allegations of breach of protocol for former senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II to allow him to attend the UN General Assembly using improper credentials.

Philippine Permanent Representative to the UN Libran Cabactulan said member nations are not required to limit their delegations to government officials who will listen to a head of state deliver a statement before the assembly.

Cabactulan said the recent visit of President Aquino was very successful largely because of the strong support from select officials and advisers, including those from the private sector that included Roxas who was part of the delegation.

“Among those advisers was former Senator Mar Roxas. Senator Roxas’s vast experience as a businessman in New York places him in an excellent position to advise the President on how the private sector can help nations achieve their Millennium Development Goals,” Cabactulan said.

Cabactulan added Roxas had experience as a Cabinet member and legislator.

“He is in a great position to advise the President and to contribute to our work in the UN,” he said.

When asked if it was improper to have a non-government official attend the General Assembly, Cabactulan said member states are not required to limit their delegations only to government officials.

“In fact, the growing complexity of the work here in the UN has led governments to tap the private sector for advice,” he said.

On allegations that Roxas used improper UN credentials, Cabactulan said Roxas is qualified since he is a member of the Philippine delegation as an adviser of the President.

“He (Roxas) is entitled to a UN ID,” Cabactulan said.

“Like I said, there is no prohibition to having non-government individuals join the Philippine delegation in the General Assembly. One does not have to be a Cabinet member to be at the UN. People from the private sector can be given UN IDs,” he said.

Cabactulan said Roxas has been to the UN several times and has spoken in the assembly himself. His photo and other details are already in the UN ID system and it was a simple matter to obtain his UN ID.

“There was nothing controversial in the presence of Senator Roxas in the General Assembly. In fact his presence reinforces the specific importance given to the private sector in the Millennium Development Goals,” Cabactulan said.