Del Rosario wants fewer political appointees

MANILA, Philippines - Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario has declared his policy direction and advocacy of having only a “few” political appointees while recruiting the “best and the brightest” under his leadership.

“I have thought about what policy directions in some areas I may like to take. I think I’d like to make a declaration that I’m an advocate of recruiting the best and brightest especially since this is a reform-oriented government,” Del Rosario said at his first press conference on Friday at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Del Rosario was a political appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when he served as Philippine ambassador to Washington from 2001 to 2006.

He was recalled for opposing Arroyo’s declaration of a state of emergency in 2006 after an alleged coup plot was foiled and for objecting to the government contract with Washington-based lobby firm Venable LLP, which the Arroyo government hired to secure support from the US Congress on the proposed Charter change.

The Arroyo administration acknowledged Del Rosario’s accomplishments, including his contributions to the overall improvement of relations between the Philippines and the US.

Del Rosario promoted security cooperation involving defense, counterterrorism and law enforcement.

He also exerted efforts in getting US financial aid for Mindanao and support for the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

His economic diplomacy and his success in convincing the California Public Employees Retirement System to keep the Philippines in its list of investment destinations were also acknowledged.

“My advocacy is to appoint as few political appointees as possible,” he said, but made it clear that the replacement and appointments to key positions at the DFA might not immediately come.

Del Rosario assumed office as the country’s top diplomat when the DFA was under fire for the slow repatriation efforts in Libya.

Only on his second day in office, he flew to Tunisia Friday night to look personally after the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers and lead efforts to bring them out of that country as quickly as possible.

He will be assuming the DFA post in an “acting capacity” while Congress is in session but will have his “ad interim appointment” once the legislature goes on recess in late March.

Del Rosario admitted that President Aquino has given “full” powers on the assignment, transfer, recall and promotion of officers in the Foreign Service.

However, he kept mum if he would recommend to the President the appointment of former Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto Romulo as next Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.

“I don’t know just yet,” he said.

Career diplomats protested the practice of appointing political ambassadors. Appointing a substantial number of political ambassadors disrupt the regular rotation in the Foreign Service, they said.