Ochoa clarifies Palace mix-up, Del Rosario to be named acting DFA head Friday

Contrary to the announcement of Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on Thursday, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said former ambassador Albert del Rosario will be designated as Foreign Affairs secretary only this Friday. Malacañang on Thursday issued a statement that Del Rosario was appointed as acting DFA secretary. However, Ochoa clarified that “Del Rosario was appointed as presidential adviser for international affairs... and then today [Friday] he will be designated as concurrent acting Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary." Ochoa issued the statement in an interview at the Rizal Park in Manila where a celebration for the 25th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution was being held. Asked if former foreign affairs secretary Alberto Romulo will be assigned as permanent representative to the United Nations, Ochoa said the matter is still being discussed. He refused to give other details on the changes in President Benigno Aquino III’s Cabinet. “I cannot comment yet sa eksatong nangyayari. I don't want to preempt what the President will say about it," said Ochoa. Lacierda's statement On Thursday, Lacierda issued a press statement saying, "The President has sworn in former Ambassador Albert del Rosario as Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs." "He comes with a sterling track record in foreign service to show that he will serve the President and the Republic with integrity and the highest devotion to the democratic principles that underscore all official actions, domestic and foreign," Lacierda said. "He comes into office at a time filled with many challenges. The President believes that he must be brought to harness at the soonest possible time to be fully briefed and engaged," Lacierda added. "Secretary del Rosario is a choice that can harmonize our professional foreign service, with the President as architect of our foreign policy, so that all are working together to pursue our national interest. The Chief Executive has every expectation that theirs will be a productive and energetic working relationship," he added.— LBG/VVP, GMA News