Noy drops Lee as China envoy

MANILA, Philippines - The search is on for a new Philippine ambassador to Beijing after President Aquino did not reappoint businessman Domingo Lee, who repeatedly failed to get the nod of the Commission on Appointments (CA). Lee, in a letter to Aquino on April 12, also requested that his nomination be withdrawn.

“I am constrained to admit the pressure from the rigors of the confirmation process in the (CA) has deeply affected my family and myself, and my familial responsibility compels me to put their interests above anything else,” Lee said.

Based on the process, there was actually no need for Lee to seek the withdrawal of his nomination since he was no longer reappointed after he was again bypassed by the CA.

The President reappointed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez and Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman, the CA reported Wednesday.

The nomination of Lee had been strongly opposed by Sen. Sergio Osmeña III, who thought Lee lacked knowledge on various aspects of Philippines-China relations.

Lee said it was with “utmost sadness” that he was writing the letter but “it is also not lost on me that the ongoing confrontation with China has gravely put much of the diplomatic work on the shoulders of Your Excellency (Aquino), which should not be the case if there is, at present, an Ambassador in China.”

“I believe that it is my patriotic duty to advance the interests of the country that I profoundly love and allow Your Excellency a free hand in selecting a new nominee to the ambassadorial post to the People’s Republic of China,” Lee said in his letter made public by Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ricky Carandang yesterday. Lee expressed “fervent appreciation” for the confidence the President gave him. Carandang said Aquino “agreed to Ambassador Lee’s wish,” even if they believed the businessman was “culturally and politically” attuned to the developments in China and “has an extensive list” of contact persons there. Carandang said Lee was eager to become the ambassador to China but unfortunately, the protracted confirmation process he felt was not something that the country could afford at a time when the Philippines was addressing serious issues with China.

“And so with the national interest in mind, Mr. Lee has requested and the President has granted the withdrawal of his nomination as ambassador to China. The search for replacement for Mr. Lee has begun and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has not yet submitted a list to the Palace. But we expect that a new nominee will be announced in the coming days,” Carandang said.

He said it would be up to the President and the DFA to determine whether the next ambassador to China would be an outsider or someone who rose from the ranks at the DFA.

“Obviously, there are advantages of having a career diplomat in China. There are also advantages of having someone who is politically appointed who has easy access to the President. But in the end, the judgment will be made by the President and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs,” Carandang said.

Carandang said Malacañang was not thinking of any new appointment for Lee but his inputs would be sought in future matters.

“There’s been no discussion at this point of appointing him to another official position,” he said. Asked if Malacañang was relieved that Lee himself had chosen not to press his nomination, Carandang said “Lee felt that the situation would be better served if he had stepped down as he said in his letter.”

“We think that his putting the interest of the country first in this way is commendable and we thank him for this patriotic act,” Carandang said.

Aquino said Monday that he was considering replacing Lee as ambassador to China because the standoff between the Philippines and China at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal made him think if the qualities of Lee would suit what the country needed at this time.

Malacañang received Lee’s letter dated April 12 on April 17.

“I don’t know as to the timing or if whether the timing had anything to do with the President’s comments,” Carandang said.

Carandang said he was not aware if anyone in Malacañang had asked Lee to give up the post.