Noy gets list of China envoy bets

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang confirmed yesterday that President Aquino has received the shortlist of candidates for the next ambassador to China to replace Sonia Brady, who recently suffered a stroke.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said they were hoping to have a good ambassador in view of the current bumps in relations between the Philippines and China.

A recent standoff at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal between Philippine and Chinese vessels along with other issues involving the West Philippine Sea are believed to have affected even the trade and investment ties between Manila and Beijing.

Lacierda said Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, who is currently in Syria to oversee the repatriation of Filipinos in the strife-torn nation, already forwarded to the President a shortlist of nominees.

“Once chosen, we will be announcing the replacement,” Lacierda said.

Asked about the urgency to appoint a new ambassador to China, Lacierda said, “We want to make sure that we have a good replacement.”

“But, in the meantime, while we are looking for a replacement, the charge d’ affaires (Alex Chua) is very capable of handling the day-to-day concerns of the Philippine embassy in China. He’s been there for some time so he’s fully aware of the concerns and the problems and issues governing our Filipino compatriots in China. So it’s being worked out,” he said.

Lacierda said he was not sure whether the President would appoint a career diplomat to replace Brady.

“Ambassador Sonia Brady was from within. So I don’t know this time around who it will be. My limitation is I’m not aware of the shortlist submitted by Secretary Del Rosario. So I wouldn’t be able to comment on whether it’s an outsider or an insider. It really depends on the shortlist submitted by Secretary Del Rosario,” Lacierda said.