Friday, December 18, 2009

Romulo et al., respondents

by Rey O. Arcilla
from MALAYA

‘Romulo had not lifted a finger to stop the planned sale of the Fujimi property in Tokyo.’

Ambassador Jose Macario Laurel IV, president of the Philippine Ambassadors Foundation, Inc. (PAFI), and Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. have filed a case with the Supreme Court against Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, Finance Undersectary Estela Sales, Deputy Executive Secretary Natividad Dizon, Budget Undersecretary Laura Pascua, Public Works Undersecretary Bashi Rasuman, Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III and Foreign Underscretary Franklin Ebdalin.

The petitioners are asking the high court to issue a Temporary Restraining Order on the bidding on the historic Fujimi property in Tokyo where the Philippine ambassador’s residence is located. (The Department of Finance has since postponed the bidding due to a “technical matter.”)

That Romulo and Ebdalin are among the respondents gives the impression that they are for the sale of the property. Are they or aren’t they?

Ebdalin was included because he is a member of the Bids and Awards Committee for the Government Properties in Japan (BAC-Japan). Romulo is not.

So what was the role of the future ex-foreign secretary in the planned sale of the property? Many times, PAFI officers sought an appointment with him to discuss the matter and seek clarification. Many times, he didn’t oblige them.

Then, after the filing of the case, he suddenly found the time to receive the PAFI officers. Too late! Why should they now “honor” him with their presence at his sanctum sanctorum in the DFA?

As far as can be determined, Romulo had not lifted a finger to stop the planned sale of the historic property. He did not even bother to take any action on a letter from Ambassador Domingo Siazon recommending that the property not be sold.

Was he in on the plan from the very beginning? As foreign secretary, he should have been among the first to object to the planned sale, instead of being a respondent in the case. Why did he not?

I suppose these are some of the questions he would have to touch upon when the Supreme Court asks the respondents in the case to comment on the PAFI petition.

***

The president of the DFA Union of Foreign Service Officers, Ambassador Victoria Bataclan, recently wrote another letter (which was also signed by almost 100 officers) to Ms. Arroyo protesting the appointment of Congressman Antonio Cuenco and Ambassador Francisco Benedicto as (political) ambassadors to Italy and China, respectively, to wit:

“Excellency,

“The last time I wrote you on 1 October 2009, regarding the concern of the career foreign service officers on the increasing level of political ambassadors, you gave our letter a welcome response of no longer issuing the questioned appointment. On behalf of your foreign service corps, I thank you for your willingness to listen to reason from those who kept faith with you.

“I have been requested again to convey the sentiments of the foreign service corps regarding the appointments of Representative Antonio V. Cuenco as Philippine Ambassador to Italy and of Ambassador Franciso L. Benedicto as Philippine Ambassador to China.

“There are two fundamental concerns regarding their appointments. First, if ever the appointment of any of these persons is confirmed by the Commission on Appointments, the said appointee would only be able to serve as ambassador for less than six (6) months. Such duration in our view does not justify the additional expense for their deployment or transfer. Second, we share anew our considered view that the appointment of a person beyond the age of 65 violates both the clear letter and spirit of Section 23 of the Foreign Service Act.

“We hope that Your Excellency will reconsider the appointments of Messrs. Cuenco and Benedicto given the above considerations. If it is truly the desire of the President to replace ambassadors at this time, we remain hopeful that the President would prioritize the appointment of career officials in the interest of maintaining the professionalization of the foreign service and ensuring continuity of service.”

A copy of the letter was sent to Romulo. As DFA head who claims to have the welfare of the career corps at heart, the least he could have done was to endorse it favorably to his mistress squatting in Malacanang. He allegedly did not. No wonder DFA personnel can hardly wait for him to leave for good, abroad or otherwise.

***

Belated though it may be, I wish to applaud the US Embassy for its statement on the gruesome massacre in Maguindanao, thus:

“Such barbaric acts violate the most fundamental principles of human rights and democracy. We strongly believe that a thorough, rapid, and transparent investigation must be conducted, and those responsible must be brought to swift justice.”

But did you notice how eerily quiet the Americans were on the imposition of martial law in Maguindanao?

If memory serves and I think it does, martial law has always been anathema to the Americans. One exception would be when the late President Ferdinand Marcos imposed it on the country in 1972.

And that is precisely why I found the Americans’ deafening silence on the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao rather strange and unsettling.

Could it have something to do with the ongoing peace talks with the MILF? Reports said that the martial rule in Maguindanao did not apply to the MILF strongholds in that province. Are those enclaves not parts of the province?

Worse, military and police units were supposed to seek permission from the MILF before conducting any operations in those enclaves in pursuit of their mandate under martial law

Strange. Really strange.

***

There was a news report that said police arrested eight persons carrying placards assailing martial law in Maguindanao. They were part of a demonstration held during Ms. Arroyo’s recent visit to Calamba City, Laguna.

The Calamba police chief said that the eight protesters were detained at the local police station pending a decision by the local prosecutor’s office.

Since when has holding up protest signs or placards become a crime?

***

Quote of the week: “The joke is on us. That little girl must be amused after tormenting us legislators and petitioners.” – Senator Joker Arroyo on the lifting of martial by his namesake.

***

There are 197 days left before the end on 30 June 2010 of the stolen presidency of Ms. Arroyo, courtesy of “Garci”, et al.

***

Today is the 224th day of the third year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.

***

Email: roacrosshairs@yahoo.com

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