3-month extension for political envoys is legal — Romulo

Amid questions on the legality of the three-month extension given by President Benigno Aquino III for non-career ambassadors, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) maintained Wednesday that the practice has legal basis and was typical in previous administrations. DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo said the extension, which he and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. recommended, was approved by President Aquino in a “written note" although it was reported on Monday that the recommendation was still awaiting Aquino’s approval. (See: Terms of RP ambassadors may be extended until Sept. 30)
The extension in effect allows Philippine ambassadors, whether career or political appointees, to retain their posts until the end of September. “The extension happened during previous terms, like the administrations of former President (Fidel) Ramos and (former) President (Joseph) Estrada," Romulo told reporters in a press conference. There were previous cases of extension of terms by as long as six months, the DFA added in a separate statement. “During the transition from President Ramos to President Estrada, President Estrada authorized the extension of tour of duties of 12 non-career ambassadors in hold-over capacity from June 20, 1998 to December 31, 1998. This is a period of six months," the brief, quickly-prepared statement read. The statement likewise cited a Supreme Court ruling on public officers’ hold-over status, which means their terms have expired but they should continue holding office until their successors are appointed or chosen. “The application of the hold-over principle in this situation is warranted to prevent a vacuum in the dispensation of public service, pending the appointment, by the newly elected President of the ambassadors’ successors, and only for three months, for winding up their affairs at their country of assignment," the statement added. Co-terminus with Arroyo The terms of political appointees were supposed to have ended on June 30 when former President Gloria Arroyo’s term also ended. At least eight ambassadors have already returned to the country — Generoso Senga (Iran), Alejandro del Rosario (Warsaw), Acmad Omar (Oman), Masaranga Umpa (Nigeria), Alexander Yano (Brunei), Rigoberto Tiglao (Athens), Antonio Villamor (Riyadh) and Domingo Siazon Jr. (Tokyo). The other ambassadors are merely on hold-over capacity not beyond the three-month extension, Romulo maintained. “Definitely they are not reappointed. They will be replaced," he said. As early as July 1, Romulo issued an advisory to ambassadors extending their tour of duty until September 30. Earlier, he issued an order asking the ambassadors to return to the country by June 30, but was subsequently countermanded by then Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza. Mendoza’s order covered the following ambassadors: Ma. Consuelo Puyat-Reyes (Santiago); Francisco Ortigas III (Mexico); Jose Brillantes (Ottawa); Ernesto De Leon (Canberra); Orlando Mercado (ASEAN-Jakarta); Vidal Querol (Jakarta); Ramoncito Marino (Koror); Francisco Benedicto (Beijing); Noe Wong (Phnom Penh); Shirley Ho-Vicario (Port Moresby); Bienvenido Tejano (Wellington); Delia Albert (Berlin); Manuel Antonio Teehankee (Geneva WTO); Antonio Manuel Lagdameo Jr. (London); Regina Irene Sarmiento (Prague); Mercedes Tuason (Vatican); Cardozo Luna (The Hague); and Ana Ines De Sequera-Ugarte (Madrid), aside from del Rosario, Omar, Yano, Tiglo, Villamor and Siazon. However, it was the ambassadors themselves who requested for an extension of service, Romulo claimed. “I went to Executive Secretary Ochoa and relayed the request of ambassadors for a three-month extension," he explained. According to reports, the Union of Foreign Service Officers will contest the extension in court. Heated exchange with journalist In the same conference, Romulo had a heated exchange with a journalist on the legal basis of the extension of terms. Columnist Ellen Tordesillas barraged Romulo with questions on the legality of the extension, saying the ambassadors’ terms have ended on June 30 and there was already nothing to extend when he issued the July 1 order. Romulo maintained, however, that the extension was based on a “written note" approved by Aquino, although he did not elaborate if the note was in the form of an executive order or any other official issuance. “Just because it was done before doesn’t make it right," Tordesillas repeatedly said, in reaction to Romulo’s insistence that extensions were also practiced by previous administrations. Several other journalists joined the fray and made side comments on the ethics of the practice, in light of several other career diplomats awaiting appointment in various foreign service post. After the conference, Romulo told reporters he harbors no “hard feelings" against Tordesillas and the other journalists. “That’s why we’re a democracy. That’s why we listen, even to those we do not agree with," he explained.—JV, GMANews.TV