Ambassador to Japan presents letter of credentials

MANILA, Philippines –  Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez has presented his letters of credentials and the recall of his predecessor to Vice Foreign Minister Kenichiro Sasae at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Lopez arrived in Tokyo last Jan. 17 to assume his duties and convey his formal request to present his credentials to His Majesty Emperor Akihito of Japan.

In his meeting with Sasae, the two officials exchanged views on Philippines-Japan relations and discussed ways to enhance and deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The ambassador-designate has begun making the rounds of calls and visits on key Japanese officials and his counterparts in ASEAN missions in Tokyo as well members of the Filipino community.

In a welcome lunch for him last Jan. 26, Lopez thanked officers and staff of the embassy for the support accorded him upon his arrival.

“I hope to continue working with all of you in representing the best of the Philippines in Japan,” he said.

Another farewell call

Philippine Ambassador to China Franciso Benedicto, one of the political ambassadors reappointed by President Aquino but who had rough sailing in the Commission on Appointments, also paid a farewell call to his host government as he prepares to end his tour of duty.

Benedicto bid goodbye to Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Vice Foreign Minister and former Chinese Ambassador to Manila Song Tao at the Foreign Ministry last Tuesday.

Sources at the DFA told The STAR that the department is sending Executive Director Alex Chua, DFA Chief of Mission 2, as deputy chief of mission to the Philippine embassy in Beijing.

“In the absence of an ambassador, Executive Director Chua will be the charge d’affaires when Amb. Benedicto leaves,” the source said.

He said a political ambassador might be named for the Beijing post. The name of Domingo Lee from the career corps floated as possible replacement of Benedicto, but nothing had been heard about it after that.

Lee was the chairman of the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry during the administration of the late President Corazon Aquino.

“But Mr. Lee is close to Taiwan, disqualifying him as ambassador to Beijing,” another source said.

The name of businessman Alfredo Yao, owner of Zesto drinks and Zest Air, has also been mentioned for the Beijing post.

Sources said Benedicto had rough sailing in the CA and he reportedly no longer has the clout to be confirmed without queries, factors that apparently made him give up his ambassadorial post.

The confirmation of Benedicto was deferred on request of Sen. Franklin Drilon.

A document that presented records of political ambassadors co-terminus with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo showed that Benedicto is one of the longest serving DFA officials in Beijing, such that he remarked at his CA confirmation that he considers himself a career diplomat.

“But China experts alleged that he compromises the Philippines’ position on the Spratlys and that he negotiates death penalty cases of Filipinos without clearance from the home office,” the document stated.