MALAYA
‘With Garcia, Rebong and Sorreta as undersecretary for policy, chief coordinator and assistant secretary for American affairs, the “Americanization” of the DFA is now complete.’
AFTER more than three years in office, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines has finally decided to take the bull by the horns and ordered a “focused, dedicated and exhaustive” investigation of the case of the missing Jonas Burgos. The military had earlier been tagged as the party responsible for Jonas’ enforced disappearance.
And it is good it was the National Bureau of Investigation that President Noynoy Aquino had ordered to do the job.
On behalf of everyone concerned and on my own, thank you Mr. President!
However, I hope I will be excused if I continue to include what I call the “Burgos Reminder” at the end of this column which I have been doing for the last six years. And it will stay there until such time as Jonas’ case is definitively resolved.
Speaking of reminders, I believe it is also time for Noynoy to order the formal investigation of the anomalies allegedly committed by officials of the National Food Authority during the Arroyo regime. Noynoy himself revealed the anomalies during his first State of the Nation Address and had been repeating it since nearly every time he went abroad.
The formal investigation of the anomalies allegedly committed in the Government Service Insurance System during the time of Winston Garcia would also be in order.
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When our dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea erupted a year ago, the US assured us of her continuing commitment to support us by virtue of the Mutual Defense Treaty.
Soon after we lodged our complaint with the UNCLOS Arbitral Tribunal last February concerning the same dispute, the US immediately registered her support for our move.
When the “coralsweeper” USS Guardian got stuck in Tubbataha Reef, the US, though belatedly, apologized for the incident.
I mention all these because they were the same subjects that were reportedly discussed between Foreign Secretary Albert “Amboy” del Rosario and Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington last week.
Nearly three months ago, Del Rosario had a phone chat with Kerry. They also reportedly talked about practically the same issues, except the Tubbataha incident which took place later.
The question is was it necessary for Del Rosario to go all the way to Washington, with two officers in tow, and go over the same issues again? How much of Juan de la Cruz’ money was spent for the unnecessary trip?
Or did he simply have the compelling desire to pay obeisance to his US counterpart who obviously finally found the time to grant him an audience after much follow-up from our ambassador in Washington? Or was Del Rosario simply summoned to come? Just asking.
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The common perception now prevailing among officers and employees of the DFA, the majority of whom still possess a keen sense of nationalism, is that the “Americanization” of the Department is now complete!
With the appointment of Evan Garcia as undersecretary for policy and the earlier assignment of Carlos Sorreta as assistant secretary for American Affairs, plus the fact that the DFA chief coordinator is Cecille Rebong, the perception appears to have a basis.
Except for an abbreviated assignment as Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva where he reportedly didn’t do well, Garcia’s only other foreign assignment was in our embassy in Washington for eight years (or was it ten?)
Garcia was also Del Rosario’s nominee to replace Sonia Brady as ambassador to China when the latter was stricken ill last year, but was rejected by Noynoy.
Rebong’s only foreign assignments had been to the Philippine Mission to the UN and the Consulate General in New York and, for a brief period, to the embassy in Washington.
Sorreta’s foreign assignments have also been limited to stints in the Washington embassy and the Philippine Mission to the UN in New York.
Garcia served under Del Rosario in Washington when the latter was the unlamented Arroyo regime’s envoy to the US. I think Sorrreta did too, but I’m not sure. As consul general in New York, Rebong was directly under the supervision of Del Rosario, as were the other Philippine consuls general in the US.
Do the assignments of Garcia, Rebong and Sorreta mean they are now experts on US affairs? No one seems to think so. On the contrary, the perception is that they must now be afflicted with what is known to diplomats as “localitis”. It supposedly affects one’s ability to distinguish the difference between the national interest of his host country and that of his own because of his having stayed too long in the host country.
To be fair though, regardless of their sentiments concerning PH-US relations, they would still have to abide by what their boss, Del Rosario, says.
Ultimately, of course, it is Noynoy’s call that would/should prevail. And there lies the most important question of all: Is he or is he not an Amboy himself? If he is, do not expect the country to have an independent foreign policy as mandated by the Constitution anytime soon.
Here, I would like to re-state for the umpteenth time – I am neither pro- nor anti- anyone – American, Chinese, Malaysian, Left, Right, Center or whatever. I am pro-Filipino! And if being pro-Filipino is being pro- or anti-anyone, so be it. But those who say so should have their heads examined.
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Last week, Del Rosario announced he would be going to Seoul, South Korea to assess the situation in that capital in the wake of the saber-rattling that North Korea had been engaging in. He said he will also look at the preparations already in place for the possible evacuation of some 40,000 Filipinos in case war breaks out.
A day or two later, Noynoy mentioned Del Rosario’s planned trip to Seoul. At the same time, he also said that there was “no imminent threat yet” to evacuate our nationals.
Then last Saturday, Del Rosario said he decided to postpone his trip because there was no “imminent threat of war”. To begin with, I do not recall anybody ever saying war was imminent.
I really have no idea what to make of this sequence of pronouncements by Noynoy and Del Rosario. Did Del Rosario inform Noynoy first of his planned trip to Seoul? I suppose he did. But it is rather curious that he subsequently decided to postpone the trip after Noynoy said there was “no imminent threat yet”. Hmm…
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Everyone concerned had been taking pains to portray the ongoing Balikatan military exercise as having nothing to do with our territorial dispute with China in the West Philippine Sea… until Del Rosario, wittingly or unwittingly, linked the two in his speech during the opening ceremonies of Balikatan last Friday.
He said this year’s Balikatan came “at a crucial time” for the country and the region as “excessive and exaggerated maritime and territorial claims have not only created uncertainty but have undermined the rule of law, regional peace and stability had been placed at serious risk.”
When pressed for clarification by reporters in an ambush interview after the ceremonies, Del Rosario said: “Well I think that we have taken the position that China’s claim for undisputable sovereignty in the South China Sea is an excessive claim and it’s a violation of international law, that’s what I’m referring (to).”
I believe the statement was ill-advised. (Need one look very far to find out who prepared his speech?) We have already lodged our complaint, which appears to be making progress, before the UNCLOS Arbitral Tribunal regarding China’s claim. We don’t have to keep needling China about her claim. It serves no useful purpose… unless, of course, China commits further provocative acts in furtherance of her claim.
Instead, Del Rosario should concentrate on giving substance and meaning to what his boss, Noynoy, said recently:
“I have every confidence that, under President Xi’s leadership, the Chinese people will continue to realize their goals of peace, prosperity, and happiness for all, and that the relations between our two countries will remain largely positive, as they have been in the past.”
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Reminders (for Noynoy’s action):
1) Filing of charges against officials of the National Food Authority (NFA) during Arroyo’s illegitimate regime. Noynoy himself said on several occasions that there is documentary evidence to prove the venalities in the past in that agency.
2) Investigation of reported anomalies in the GSIS during the watch of Winston Garcia and ordering his successor, Robert Vergara, to file the proper charges, if warranted, against the former.
Noynoy should also order Vergara to report to him on COA’s findings that at least P4.13 billion in contributions and loan payments made by 12 government offices to the GSIS had not been credited to the offices as of Dec. 31, 2011. COA also said the amount of unrecorded remittances could go much higher because only 36 agencies have so far responded out of the 186 that were sent confirmation requests by government auditors. Of the 36, 27 confirmed “discrepancies” in their premium and loan payments ledgers when compared with those of the GSIS.
There are three questions being raised when remittances, or parts thereof, of government agencies are not recorded by the GSIS on time: a) Where are these huge sums “parked” in the meantime?; b) Do they earn interest?; and c) To where (whom?) does the interest, if any, go?
Last week, I finally received the promised email from the GSIS. Sadly, it did not address directly the substance of COA’s above findings, i.e., the billions of pesos of unrecorded remittances by government agencies and the equally huge amount of “discrepancies” in their premium and loan payments ledgers when compared with those of the GSIS.
I believe the GSIS would be well-advised to just tell its members where those humongous amounts of money are.
3) Facilitating the investigation of rampant corruption in the military and police establishments.
4) Expeditious action by the AFP on the case of Jonas Burgos.
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Today is the 347th day of the sixth year of Jonas Burgos’ disappearance.
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From an internet friend:
DON’T MESS WITH KIDS
The teacher had all been photographed and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
“Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, “There’s Jennifer, she’s a lawyer,” or “That’s Michael, he’s a doctor.”
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, “And there’s the teacher, she’s dead.”
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Email: roacrosshairs@yahoo.com
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