DFA SEC ROMULO DESIGNATED UNDERSEC ERLINDA BASILIO ACTING CHIEF
MANILA, FEBRUARY 21, 2011 (STAR) Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo has designated Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda Basilio as acting secretary until the appointment of his successor.
"Secretary Romulo is filing for an indefinite leave of absence until the appointment of the new secretary of foreign affairs," Eduardo Malaya, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman, said yesterday.
This developed as Malacañang said earlier that there was no need for heads to roll at the DFA if the three Filipinos convicted for drug trafficking in China would be executed.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also said the Palace was aware of reports that Romulo had gone on indefinite leave after President Aquino announced that he would likely be transferred, but Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa "did not get any communication to that effect."
DFA sources told The STAR that Romulo filed for a leave of absence in the morning of Feb. 16.
Basilio came from the ranks starting as Foreign Service Officer IV in 1970. She served as Ambassador to Sweden 1997-2003 and Permanent Representative to Philippine Mission to the United Nations in Geneva 2007-2010.
At the DFA, Basilio served as Assistant Secretary for Asia and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC) 1995-1997 and Undersecretary for Policy 2006-2007.
The STAR reported yesterday that Romulo is on an indefinite leave of absence to pave the way for the assumption of his successor.
Romulo, a holdover of the Arroyo administration, began packing his things on Thursday but invited DFA undersecretaries and assistant secretaries to a lunch at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.
Career diplomats at the DFA may have clashed with Romulo over different issues but they do not agree with the "timing" of replacing him at the height of the crisis involving the first Filipinos to be executed in China.
The lunch hosted by Romulo was supposed to be a farewell lunch but no but there was no announcement that he would be leaving the DFA.
The appointment papers of former Philippine ambassador to Washington Albert del Rosario have been signed by the President but there are legal questions with his assumption.
Sources said Malacañang is also trying to devise an exit plan for Romulo particularly an appointment as next Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York.
The DFA confirmed a report of The STAR last month on the detailing of an official from the Office of the President (OP) to Romulo's office at the DFA.
The DFA said the detailing was only to ensure the "seamless coordination" on the President's official and state visits overseas.
But DFA sources said the detailing of lawyer Jocel Mostajo was more than just being a liaison as Malacañang's "eyes and ears" at the Office of the Secretary could "go down to the geographic" by looking at the different offices in the department and their performance and report to the Palace.
Sources said Malacañang's detailing of OP official to the DFA actually broke the tradition where the department is the one that details DFA officers to the Presidential Protocol.
"The tradition is DFA to Malacañang not Malacañang to DFA. Palace may have detailed officials to DFA before the passage of the Foreign Service Act (RA 7157) but after its passage in 1991 there was none (detailing at DFA)," a source said.
Although Romulo was informed in advance about the detailing of Mostajo, sources said the secretary was offended.
"I'm sure the Secretary was given advance notice that he (Mostajo) will be detailed at the OSEC. But there is no precedent. If you have trust you do not need a liaison at the DFA," another source said.
DFA sources said Mostajo reported on his first day at the DFA OSEC on Jan. 11 that sent Malacañang's message of distrust.
Mostajo, from the Office of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and a staff of Aquino when he was senator, was detailed at Romulo's office amid reports that the Secretary was resigning to assume another post in the Aquino administration.
Palace: Hope springs eternal
Meanwhile, the Palace has not given up on its effort to save the three Filipinos who are slated to be executed next week.
"I think we were not lacking in efforts to push for our appeal. We have already mentioned that when this case initially came up, we were closely monitoring. We have provided legal assistance to the three—not just to the three but to most of our nationals who are similarly situated—and we have gone through all the channels," Valte said.
She stressed that the President himself had written China a few times to appeal for leniency and that Filipino officials also repeatedly conveyed the same message to the Chinese government.
"At this point, we don't know what the outcome will be because, at this point, we choose to remain hopeful despite the situation," Valte said.
She said Malacañang is hoping that Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was allowed by Beijing to visit and make a personal appeal to stay the execution of the three Filipinos, would bring home good news.
Valte said that since the government was focused on saving the three Filipinos, the announcement on the Cabinet revamp would no longer be made this week.
When asked about the need to reform the DFA given the developments, Valte said it would be best to wait for the President's action in the coming days.
She said if Romulo had indeed gone on indefinite leave, undersecretaries would just have to take over temporarily. – Pia Lee-Brago, Aurea Calica, Mayen Jaymalin, Jose Rodel Clapano
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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