CA confirms DFA, DAR chiefs

MANILA, Philippines -  The Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed yesterday the appointments of Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes.

The CA also confirmed 22 ambassadors and the promotions of 39 other foreign service officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Unlike De los Reyes whose confirmation hearing was completed without a hitch, Del Rosario had to face claims against him in one of his previous capacities.

A certain Chung Hing Wong appeared before the CA and narrated the estafa case he filed against Del Rosario and the other directors of the defunct PDCP (Private Development Corp. of the Philippines) Bank.

After prompting Wong to present his evidence against Del Rosario and to explain why he was not qualified for the post, CA foreign relations committee chair Miriam Defensor-Santiago dismissed him for various reasons, including his “offensive grammar.”

Santiago reprimanded Wong for wasting the time of the commission in bringing his case, which is pending before the Department of Justice, before the CA.

During his confirmation hearing, Del Rosario committed to review the operations of all of the overseas diplomatic posts, close some embassies that are unnecessary and strengthen the posts where greater bilateral relations could be achieved.

He also gave assurance that the DFA would actively defend the Philippines’ claims on the South China Sea, including filing the necessary diplomatic protests against countries that pose threats to the country’s sovereignty.

It was revealed that Del Rosario earned a total of P180 million from 2007 to 2010 or around P45 million a year, way above the P70,000 a year he is getting now as DFA secretary.

Also confirmed yesterday were the nominations of 22 ambassadors, 20 of them career foreign service officials.

The new ambassadors are: Belen Anota (Australia), Victoria Bataclan (Belgium), Virginia Benavidez (New Zealand), Enrique Manalo (United Kingdom), Bayani Mercado (Norway), Lourdes Morales (Netherlands), Cristina Ortega (France), George Reyes (Mexico), Marilyn Alarilla (Turkey), Generoso Calonge (Israel), Leslie Gatan (Canada), Virgilio Reyes (Italy), Leslie Baja (Switzerland), Eleanor Jaucian (Hungary), Joselito Jimeno (Oman), Jose Eduardo Malaya III (Malaysia), Meynardo Montealegre (Greece), Ma. Cleofe Natividad (Germany), Ma. Rosario Aguinaldo (Indonesia), Edgardo Manuel (Poland), Ezzedin Tago (Saudi Arabia) and Ramoncito Mariño (Palau).

Only Mariño was a political appointee, out of the 22 new ambassadors.

The fact that there were more career executives than political appointees was not lost on the CA, which is planning to pass a resolution commending President Aquino for tapping the services of more career foreign service officers.

The CA also confirmed the promotion of 39 foreign service officers, as follows:

Chiefs of Mission, Class I: Benito B. Valeriano, Petronila P. Garcia, Julius D. Torres, Jocelyn S. Batoon-Garcia, Ma. Zeneida A. Collinson, Bayani V. Mangibin, Ma. Corazon Yap-Bahjin, Libran N. Cabactulan, Minda C. Cruz, Jose Arthur P. Ampeso, and Olivia V. Palala.

Chiefs of Mission, Class II: Noel Eugene Eusebio M. Servigon, Antonio A. Morales, Narciso T. Castañeda, Jesus S. Domingo, Oscar G. Orcine, Junever M. Mahilum-West, Joseph Gerard B. Angeles, Jose R. Burgos, Celia Anna M. Feria, and Eduardo Jose A. De Vega.

Career Ministers: Raymond R. Balatbat, Christine Queenie C. Mangunay, Armando L. Comia, Angelica C. Escalona, Paul Vincent L. Uy, Henry S. Bensurto Jr., Lourdes S. Tabamo, Uriel Norman R. Garibay, and Adrian Bernie C. Candolada.

Foreign Service Officers, Class I: Pete Raymond V. Delfin, Melchor P. Lalunio Jr., Kristine Leilani R. Salle, Angelo V. Amonoy, Noel M. Novicio, and Myca Magnolia M. Fischer.

Foreign Service Officers, Class II: Val Simon T. Roque, and Arman R. Talbo.

The CA is set to meet again today to tackle the appointment of Commission on Elections chairman Sixto Brillantes. With Pia Lee-Brago