MANILA, Philippines —It could be a new way of promoting transparency at the Department of Foreign Affairs — or maybe he just really likes to tweet.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. sent Assistant Secretary Elmer Cato instructions over Twitter on Monday morning and followed up with more tweets on Monday afternoon.
Elmer, I want that issue raised by our workers in Libya brought to my desk ASAP. I don't want smart talk that we here can possibly know better than OFWs abroad. That's a laughable proposition.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) November 18, 2018
Cato, who heads the DFA's Office of Public Diplomacy, replied on Twitter: "Yes Sir. We will resolve the homecoming issues conveyed to us by our workers both Iraq and Libya."
Although seeing this kind of public communication between government officials may be new to those who follow Philippines foreign affairs, its not as surprising for those who follow the Locsin, who is a former broadcast journalist and speechwriter and an outspoken Twitter user.
Locsin was appointed DFA secretary in October, replacing Alan Peter Cayetano, who stepped down to run for a seat in the House of Representatives.
Yes Sir. We will resolve the homecoming issues conveyed to us by our workers in both Iraq and Libya
— Elmer G Cato (@elmer_cato) November 18, 2018
Locsin said in another tweet that Filipinos in Libya are worried since the Philippines raised its alert level there to Level III.
Since WE raised the alert level in Libya now workers worry they cannot go home for Christmas. We better not f**k them.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) November 18, 2018
The DFA said in September that, under Alert Level III, Filipinos in Libya should start preparations for possible evacuation and all those with valid employment contracts currently on vacation in the Philippines will not be allowed to return.
On Monday afternoon, Locsin put pressure on the assistant secretary to publicly answer questions from OFWs.
@elmer_cato Everyone in Libya is waiting for your explanation. As I said, we cover no one's ass not even our own. Tell it plain and never assume we know better than those in the situation they are in what that situation is. Start tweeting now.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) November 19, 2018
Elmer, our OFWs in Libya want straight answers to their questions. Start tweeting now.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) November 19, 2018
@elmer_cato Our people in Libya are waiting to be clarified and to the extent possible helped to see their families back home at Christmas and if this means no one sleeps it means no one sleeps through the holidays. https://t.co/BxiMr9GzHW
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) November 19, 2018
READ: DFA places Libya under Alert Level 3
The DFA raised its alert level in response to escalating violence in Libya's war-torn capital Tripoli.
The DFA placed rapid response teams at the Philippine embassy in Tripoli to evacuate the 1,800 Filipinos who have been caught in the middle of the fighting. Last July, three Filipino engineers were kidnapped by an armed group and attempts by negotiators to secure their release were halted because of the fighting.
The DFA said in September that there are around 3,500 Filipinos total working in Libya. — Ryan Macasero