Orly Mercado named ambassador to Asean

MANILA, Philippines - Newly named ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Orlando Mercado took his oath before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Malacañang Wednesday. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Mercado’s new position, unlike the ambassadorial post to China that was first given to him, would spare him from facing the Commission on Appointments. “We were told by the Department of Foreign Affairs that just like ambassador Davide (and the ambassador Teeheankee and ambassador Basillo, since they are not ambassadors specific to countries, they do not have to go through the scrutiny of the Commission on Appointments. That is the important thing," Ermita said. He was referring to ambassadors Hilario Davide Jr. (Philippine permanent ambassador to the United Nations), Manuel Teehankee (Philippine ambassador to the World Trade Organization), Erlinda Basillio (Philippine permanent ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva) and Antonio Basilio, (Philippine ambassador to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office). Mercado, who was first named ambassador to China in June 2008, reportedly asked for the withdrawal of his former appointment after delays in his confirmation in the Commission on Appointments. He likewise resigned as president/chief executive officer of Radio Philippines Network (RPN9), a post that went to Antonio Albano, former deputy spokesman of the administration’s Team Unity senatorial slate in 2007 and former executive director of the Office of Political Coalition Affairs in Malacañang. Mercado who was Arroyo’s first defense secretary, a post he retained when the presidency changed from then President Joseph Estrada to Arroyo, was a former senator and former mediaman. - GMANews.TV