Palace tells Lee critics: Go to CA

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang confirmed yesterday the appointment of businessman Domingo Lee as ambassador to China and told critics to just question his qualifications before the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Reports came out that top career diplomats were against Lee’s appointment because of his lack of experience in handling complex diplomatic

issues, especially those involving territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Lee is said to be a family friend of the Aquinos.

Retired Foreign Affairs undersecretary Franklin Ebdalin was reportedly offered the job but declined it.

“For every appointment that is made by the President, what we always say is that the appointment is based on the trust and competence and capability of the appointee. That being said, I think it will be prudent to wait for the person to do his job before any judgment is made on his capability,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over dzRB.

Valte added it would not be fair to make comments right after hearing the person’s name.

“There is a proper venue for areas of concern on his qualifications, and that would be the Commission on Appointments,” she said.

“He is the appointing power... It’s the President who really sees the broad spectrum of things and given that point of view, he is the one who can say who will be best for a certain position. While we understand that there will always be objections, again there is a proper forum for objections,” Valte said.