[PHOTO - Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo]
MANILA, FEBRUARY 19, 2011 (STAR) By Pia Lee-Brago, Aurea Calica - Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo has gone on an indefinite leave of absence to pave the way for the assumption of his successor, diplomatic sources said yesterday.
The sources told The STAR that Romulo has been on leave since Wednesday but invited undersecretaries and assistant secretaries of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to a lunch yesterday at Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.
Malacañang sources said former ambassador to Washington Albert del Rosario would likely replace Romulo who is expected to be appointed as Philippine permanent representative to the United Nations.
"Secretary Romulo filed for a leave of absence in the morning of Feb. 16 and even packed his things in his room at the Office of the Secretary," one of the sources said.
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 three Filipinos to be executed in China.
The diplomats said the DFA should be fully focused, acting strongly and being led by the secretary but he knew he is being replaced.
They believe Romulo should stay a little longer also in time for a special meeting next week called by Indonesia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members to discuss the Cambodia-Thailand dispute. The ASEAN meeting could be Romulo's farewell to his counterparts, they said.
"Why replace the DFA Secretary at the height of crisis? You don't change the horse in the middle of a race," a senior diplomat said.
The lunch hosted by Romulo yesterday was supposed to be a farewell lunch but the secretary did not mention any goodbyes or any planned announcement.
"Strangely, no mention of leaving the DFA or farewell was said. He just shook hands with the undersecretaries and assistant secretaries. Very strange," a DFA official said.
Sources said the appointment of Del Rosario has been signed by President Aquino but there are legal questions to his assumption.
"Congress is in session and what the President can do is issue a nomination of his successor and the successor has to be confirmed before he can assume. There would be someone, most likely a senior career official who will be designated as acting secretary for the time being while waiting for the assumption of office of the regular secretary," an official said.
Sources said Malacañang is also trying to devise an exit plan for Romulo particularly an appointment as the next Philippine permanent representative to the United Nations in New York.
The source also said the President was evaluating Commission on Information and Communication Technology Chairman Ivan Uy, who was accused of anomalies while he was at the Supreme Court.
Earlier reports said Uy was replaced as head of the SC's management information system office some five years ago due to "inefficiency and anomalies."
Uy was alleged to be involved in the anomalous procurement of computers and other irregularities.
Aquino on Wednesday indicated that Romulo was on the way out and could serve in another capacity. "That is very possible at this time. But it's also subject to whether he'd accept it or not."
Aquino said the foreign affairs portfolio was quite important, especially with recent developments abroad.
"We have a lot of things to do with regard to foreign affairs. For instance, isn't the latest one the one that happened in Egypt? Now, we have the issue of our countrymen who were sentenced (to death) in China," the President said.
Sources said the President and Romulo were not really seeing eye-to-eye on many issues regarding foreign policy and that Aquino could work better with Del Rosario.
There are reports that Aquino is also considering Romulo to be appointed as chairman of the Commission on Audit, head of the Development Bank of the Philippines or a member of the Monetary Board.
Romulo served as budget secretary under the administration of the President's mother, Corazon Aquino, before winning a Senate seat in 1987.
Romulo expressed support for Mr. Aquino in the last elections despite being a member of the Arroyo administration that backed the candidacy of former Defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro.
Aquino announced late last year that he would effect a Cabinet revamp in early 2011. He said that the revamp would involve two or three officials.
There are two remaining acting secretaries in the Cabinet - Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.
Many expect Paje to be replaced by former Bukidnon congressman Nereus Acosta, a former chairman of the House committee on the environment.
Former Sen. Manuel Roxas II, Aquino's running mate in the May 2010 elections, will also be joining the administration as chief troubleshooter but the two can only accept the positions when the one-year ban on defeated candidates holding appointive positions expires in the middle of the year.
Acosta, Aquino's party mate in the Liberal Party, ran for senator in last year's elections but lost.
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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