DEL ROSARIO TAKES OATH AS NEW DFA SECRETARY
MANILA, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 (STAR) By Delon Porcalla - [PHOTO - President Aquino swears in Albert del Rosario as foreign affairs secretary at Malacañang yesterday]
President Aquino administered yesterday the oath of former ambassador to the US Albert del Rosario as the new secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, replacing Alberto Romulo, who went on indefinite leave at the height of tensions in the Middle East.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Del Rosario would be DFA chief in an "acting capacity" while Congress is in session, but that the new Cabinet member will have his "ad interim appointment" once the legislature goes on recess in late March.
In a hastily called press conference, Aquino told Palace reporters he would only be taking a few questions because he still had to "administer the oath" to Del Rosario and will be attending the Mass at the EDSA Shrine in Ortigas Avenue.
However, designating Del Rosario as acting foreign affairs secretary while Congress is in session, according to knowledgeable sources, is one way of circumventing the requirement of confirmation for cabinet members before they could start work.
This is because such an appointment is not immediately effective if he replaced Romulo, and would thus "skirt or go around the rules" of the powerful bicameral Commission on Appointments that screens and confirms members of the Cabinet.
Ad interim appointments are deemed effective immediately in nature as it does away with the confirmation process while Congress - whose senators and congressmen comprise the CA body - is on legislative break. Permanent appointments are done while Congress is in session.
Lacierda said Del Rosario "comes with a sterling record in foreign service to show that he will serve the President and the Republic with integrity and the highest devotion to the democratic principles that underscore all official actions, domestic and foreign."
"He (Del Rosario) comes into office at a time filled with many challenges. The President believes that he must be brought to harness at the soonest possible time to be fully briefed and engaged," the spokesman said.
"Secretary Del Rosario is a choice that can harmonize our professional foreign service, with the President as architect of our foreign policy, so that all are working together to pursue our national interest," Lacierda said.
"The Chief Executive has every expectation that theirs will be a productive and energetic working relationship."
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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