RP envoys set to return before Noynoy inauguration

Philippine diplomatic officials are set to return to the country in the next few days as their respective tenures in foreign posts end with the inauguration of President-elect Benigno Aquino III on June 30. A radio report said the envoys' return was in accordance to a "recall order" earlier issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in time for the change of administration. Leaving behind their posts along with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo are 4,300 co-terminus executive officials, and more than 50,000 rank and file employees. [See: Arroyo, Aquino transition teams hold another meeting on Wednesday] Expected to arrive in Manila on Saturday are a number of ambassadors including Philippine Ambassador to Poland Alejandro del Rosario, the report said. Other returning ambassadors are:

• former military chief Alexander Yano (Brunei),
• former military vice chief of staff Cardozo Luna (Netherlands),
• Jose Brillantes (Canada),
• former senator Orlando Mercado (ASEAN),
• former police general Vidal Querol (Indonesia),
• businessman Francisco Benedicto (China),
• former Presidential Chief of Staff Rigoberto Tiglao (Greece), and
• Manuel Teehankee (World Trade Organization, Geneva).

The diplomats' return would push through despite Malacañang's blocking of the DFA recall order. Justifying its move, the Palace told the DFA to await further orders from the President before implementing the recall order. Sen. Francis Pangilinan earlier claimed Mrs. Arroyo has been calling up her appointees, asking them to hold on to their respective posts and not to submit courtesy resignations. The senator said Mrs. Arroyo was attempting to build a "phalanx of GMA [initials for Gloria Macapagal Arroyo] loyalists" who would watch her back once she steps down as president and Aquino takes over. — LBG/RSJ, GMANews.TV