161 names for 31 ambassadorial positions

The Department of Foreign Affairs is at a loss how to accommodate the 161 names they have received from Malacañang for ambassadorial positions.

The list, sources say, includes names of retired military officers.

There are only 60 Philippines embassies all over the world, four permanent missions and 20 consulates general.

The 1991 Foreign Service Act provides that “the President shall be guided, as much as possible, by the principle that a majority of diplomatic and permanent missions shall be headed by career ambassadors.”

The four Permanent Philippine missions are to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations headquarters based in Jakarta which is currently headed by Elizabeth P. Buensuceso; to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland headed by Cecilia B. Rebong; to the United Nations in New York headed by Lourdes O. Yparraguirre, and to the World Trade Organization, also based in Geneva and headed by Ryan Francis D. Gener.

By simple mathematics, 60 embassies and four permanent mission equals 64. Simple majority of 64 is 33. That leaves 31 posts for retired military officers, campaign contributors and friends whom Duterte may want to reward with an ambassadorial post.

So far, Malacañang has submitted to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation the names of Antonio Manuel R. Lagdameo as ambassador to United Kingdom; Jose V C Laurel, ambassador to Japan; James Lao, ambassador to Brunei Darussalam; Philippe J. Lhuillier, ambassador to Spain; and Alan L. Timbayan, ambassador to Qatar.

It has also announced the nomination of Marciano Paynor as ambassador to the United Sates and former Makati congressman Teodoro Locsin Jr. as ambassador to the United Nations.

Paynor is retired career foreign service officer and a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy. He is considered an authority in organizing state visits and international events.

Former journalist Chito Santaromana, sources said, has been tapped to be ambassador to China replacing Linda Basilio who is recovering from illness. Basilio, a retired career officer, was also a political appointee.

Lagdameo had served as ambassador to UK and Spain during the term of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He is the brother-in-law of Antonio Floreindo, Jr., Duterte’s top campaign contributors.

Lagdameo’s replacement of Evan Garcia at this time is somewhat unsettling because the latter assumed the London position only last May and has not even presented his credentials to the Queen yet.

The Foreign Service Act has set rules in the posting of career ambassadors in order that they can “serve effectively the interests of the Republic of the Philippines.” The law provides that “Career ambassadors are entitled to security of tenure, including to a foreign assignment of six years when assigned overseas.” The six-year foreign assignment of career ambassador can be divided into two foreign posts.

The six- year foreign posting (at least three years in one post) makes a lot of sense, not only to allow the officer enough time to learn about the host country and pursue initiatives to enhance relations but also for financial reasons. Relocating an officer and his family to another country costs a lot of money.

To accommodate more of the President’s friends who want a diplomatic posting, sources said Malacañang wants to put political appointees in the 20 consulate generals. This is a serious concern among career officers who believe that appointments to positions below that of an ambassador, notably Consul General of a stand-alone Consulate General, are reserved for career officers.

Consulate Generals primarily provides consular assistance such as passport and visa services; notarial services, registration services including those for births and deaths; solemnizes marriages between Filipino nationals; and other activities that promote the welfare of Filipino nationals.

Career officers are trained do these work. Putting political appointees to head consulate generals would just be adding a useless layer, an extra burden to Filipino taxpayers.

During the presidency of Corazon Aquino, following the ouster of strongman Ferdinand E. Marcos through people power revolution in February 1986, Tomas Gomez was appointed consul general in Honolulu primarily to monitor Marcos’ activities.

Francisco Rodrigo (who married actress Boots Anson Roa two years ago) was put as ConGen in New York and movie actor Amado Cortez in San Francisco.

“Such appointments are now prohibited under the Foreign Service Act of 1991,” a retired foreign service officer said.

The issue of political appointees is just one of the causes of demoralization in the foreign service. More harrowing is waking up in the morning and seeing reports of the President cursing world leaders and institutions, a Philippine diplomat said.

The other day, Duterte aligned himself with Hitler.

In a presscon upon his arrival from his visit to Vietnam, Duterte said,” Hitler massacred three million Jews. Now there are three million drug addicts…I’d be happy to slaughter them. At least if Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have what you know (pointing to himself). My victims, I would like to be — all criminals — to finish the problem and save the next generation from perdition.”

I’m curious how our ambassadors to Germany and Israel faced their respective hosts.

These are not the best of times for Philippine foreign service.