The order of Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo extending the tour of duty of political ambassadors appointed by Gloria Arroyo for another three months is fraught with legal landmines:
1. If it’s his order, what ‘s his authority to extend the services of an ambassador whose appointment has expired. Under the Constiution and in the Foreign Service Act,it’s only the president who can appoint ambassadors.
2. The President, on the other hand, has no power to extend a terminated contract. He can only nominate or appoint. Now, has he nominated or re-appointed these ambassadors?
3. If he has issued new appointments to these ambassadors, there is a process to make the assumption of the position legal. They have to go through confirmation by the Commission on Appointments, get an agreement from the host country and present their credentials. It’s doubtful if these political ambassadors complied with the process.
4. If their extension of services has no legal basis, will they be getting salaries? How about their use of embassy facilities? Will that not constitute usurpation of authority and malversation?
Dapat kasi magaling ang foreign secretary.
Political envoys given 3 months to wind up affairs
By Pia Lee-Brago
The Philippine Star
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has extended the tour of duty of ambassadors with non-career and coterminous status to three months so they can finish their duties in their posts.
In an advisory sent to 21 political ambassadors last July 1, the DFA has extended their tour of duty from noon of June 30 to Sept. 30.
Several ambassadors have resisted the recall order. Career ambassadors, those who have a fixed six-year tour of duty, are not affected by the recall orders.
“The additional period will allow these ambassadors to finish protocular and administrative arrangements undertaken by departing diplomats, including farewell calls on host government officials and diplomatic colleagues,” DFA said in a statement.
The DFA said political ambassadors Generoso Senga (Iran), Alejandro del Rosario (Warsaw), Acmad Omar (Oman), Masaranga Umpa (Nigeria) and Alexander Yano (Brunei) have already returned to the country.
Ambassadors Rigoberto Tiglao (Athens), Antonio Villamor (Riyadh) and Domingo Siazon Jr. (Tokyo) have also arrived in the country.
Senior DFA officials, who requested anonymity, said among the non-career ambassadors who resisted the recall orders were: Ana Ines de Sequera-Ugarte (Madrid); Acmad Omar (Muscat ); Antonio Villamor (Riyadh); Vidal Querol (Jakarta) and Ernesto de Leon (Canberra).
The ambassadors recalled to the home office are Ma. Consuelo Puyat-Reyes (Santiago); Francisco Ortigas III (Mexico); Jose Brillantes (Ottawa); 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); Yano (Brunei); Cardozo Luna (The Hague); Yano, Tiglao, Del Rosario, Siazon, Villamor, Omar, Querol, De Leon and Ugarte.
DFA officials said the regular rotation in the foreign service would be disrupted if many political ambassadors would refuse to give up their posts.
Sen. Edgardo Angara said diplomats should not leave their posts until their replacements have been appointed because it is considered an offense under the rules of diplomatic relations.
“Let us not let our political practices affect these. In the diplomatic service, they (ambassadors) stay until formally replaced. They cannot leave their duties to the charge d’affairs,” Angara said in a radio interview.
Sen. Franklin Drillon, however, said the ambassadors should have come home prudently because the charge d’affairs can take over their functions until their replacements have been appointed.
He said diplomats with coterminous status could not be charged with abandonment because their appointments expired at the end of the term of the appointing power. – With Christina Mendez
Sana tuloy tuloy ang pagkakalat ni Romulo para masibak na! The only cabinet secretary na holdover at nauna pang iaanounce ang appointment nya kaysa sa Presidente.
Pareng Oblak,
Sa mga Romulo, itong si Alberto ang may lahing Intsik at Cambodian. Mula ‘yan sa angkan ng mga Chua-Fang at Bo-Pol.
Ewan din lang natin kung gaano kakapal ang mukha ng hudas na ‘yan na pinangunahan pa si PeNoy sa pagsisiwalat sa media tungkol sa kanyang retention as DFA secretary na nagkaroon na ng bagong kahulugan – secretary of foolish affairs.
Dapat pala isama sa killing fields yang si Romulo. I gave him the benefit of the doubt pero kung itutuloy nya itong pagpapanatili ng mga Arroyo appointees na ambassadors, yan ang first blot ko kay Noynoy.
Patawarin mo ko MRP, namimiss ko ang smirk at nasal grating voice ni Arroyo!!!
Patawarin mo ko MRP, namimiss ko ang smirk at nasal grating voice ni Arroyo!!! -Oblak.
Ibig mo shabihen, nami missh mo ‘yung mga shalita n’yang farang lasheng? ‘Tafosh fharang fhinavhalobho fha ang kanyang lalamunan fhara akhalain ng makakarinig nafakalaking babae shiyah?
Teka! Baliktarin mo ‘yang initial ko, bastos ka.
May Rest in Peace (MRP) na ‘yan, ah?
Sinasalbahe mo na ‘ata ako, eh!
Most Requested Person ibig sabihin nyan. Sa iyo, hindi MRP kungdi SLN!!!
Madam Chi, si Puno nga ang sa DILG!! Si Rico PUno!!
Ms. Ellen, paundap undap ang imong blog!
Walastik itong si Alberto Romulo Chua-Fang.
Aba’y hindi aabuting ng isang taon at madidiskaril itong administrasyon ni PeNoy, ah.
Parang mas mataas pa at mas makapangyarihan pa siya sa presidente kung umasta’t hindi man lamang siya magbigay galang sa pagsusumite ng mga pangalan kung sino ang mga nakatalagang ambassadors upang mapagpasyahan kung sino ang puuwiin at sino ang palalawigin ang pananatili sa bansang kinatatalagahan.
Grabe na ito!
Super to the max!
Kapal!
RE: Sa mga Romulo, itong si Alberto ang may lahing Intsik at Cambodian. Mula ‘yan sa angkan ng mga Chua-Fang at Bo-Pol.-MPR
Ibig sabihin Igan MPR e kababayan siya nina Khapal-Mukz at Tha Bha Kho?
Dapat e dispatsahin at magtalaga ng bagong-luma, kahit papaano e mag-iba naman mga lingkod-bayad ng P-Noy gov’t.
Wala tayong ibang choice kundi tanggapin ang katotohanan na ito ang gustong mangyari ng 15M botante na nagpanalo kay P-Noy.
Wait and see…6-years tayong pamumunuan ng HEPA B regime!
RE: Most Requested Person ibig sabihin nyan.-Oblak
See, naiiba ka talaga Igan MRP…imagine the Most Requested Person ka pala dito sa Ellenville, para lubos-todo pagpupugay sa iyo e dapat Respetadong Igang Pinoy!
Pader, grabe ka naman at ultimate pagpupugay na yang RIP!!!
May balita na pinag aaralan nila Ochoa ang 3 months extension sa mga ambassadors. Iba talagang mag operate si Chua Fang!
Expect more miserable embarassments with that idiot at the DFA helm!
Confusing directives by the man at the top can only lead to inefficiency.
inefficiency in the service…
una, kung totoong hindi alam ni noynoy na inextend ni romulo ang mga ambassadors ni gloria despite yung in-issue nya na memorandum circular no. 1, ibig sabihin, harapang binabastos ni romulo si noynoy. pinapakita lang ni romulo na hindi nya sinasanto kahit presidente ng pilipinas, at pinapakita naman ni noynoy na wala talaga syang kontrol sa mga tao nya.
pangalawa, kung alam at may basbas ni noynoy ang ginawa na extension ni romulo, ang tanong ay bakit? di kaya totoo ang paratang noon na si noynoy ang tunay na secret candidate ni gloria, at may usapan na sila tungkol sa mga political appointees ni aling glo?
pero anuman sa dalawang scenario na to ang totoo (alam ni noynoy or di alam ni noynoy yung extension), iisa lang ang suma-total: black eye kaagad ‘to sa bagong adminstrayong aquino.
oh my! lumalabas na ang pagka dysfunctional nang mga trusted men ni Noynoy! kung bakit pa kasi ni-retain yan eh! Rumulo is a brand that is soooo overrated!
Bakit ba napaka importante ni Romulo? Ano ba ang ilalabas na baho ni Romulo tungkol kay gma at Noynoy kaya ayaw nilang tanggalin sya sa DFA? Hindi naman siguro tayo mga tanga no? Siguro naman kahit kaunti may pakiramdam tayo.
Si Davide dapat mag file ng charges diyan sa ginawa nya noong kay Erap pero anong ginawa ni autistic Noynoy? Dapat mag file din ng charges kay Puno.
Lahat ng dapat kasuhan ay yon ang ginagawang opisyal ni autistic Noynoy, bakit kaya?
‘Lang’yang buhay ire, oo.
Dapat muna siguro akong mag-lie the below dine sa ET. Aba’y akala ko dine ay meron na akong mga kakampi, ‘yun pala ay siya pang unang tila nananalanging mabura na ko sa mundong above the sea level.
Hindi gaanong halata ang mga banat subalit kung susuriin ang bigat ng bagsak ay kulang na la’ang ay ibaon ako sa burak.
MRP. SLN. RIP.
Napakasakit namang ayaw pang mga diretsahin, eh.
Tsk. tsk. tsk.
Kung nasaktan ka MPR, my apologies. I take back all i posted. Akala ko kasi nasa tagayan table pa tayo !
May very interesting article si Mr. Rey Arcilla about ROmulo at ang impluwensya ng Iglesia ni Kristo. Ang Iglesia ni Kristo umano ang nag lobby para maretain si Romula.
Hindi ako nasasaktan. Bantad na at parang manhid na pakiramdam ko mula nang magwalanghiya ang walanghiyang pamilya noong 2001. Mahigit siyam na taon ‘yun!
Saka hindi ako galit!
Okey lang ‘yan. D’yan ka maligaya, eh.
Pero, tandaan mo lang. Huwag na huwag kang pakikita sa akin. Dulo lang ng kuko mo ang walang latay.
O, tagay na! Dahan dahan sa pulutan.
OFW protest vs high passport fees spreads
“……Romulo said he was fully aware of the difficulties being experienced by applicants even as he appealed for patience as the passport appointment system was still being perfected.
Applicants using the online system have complained that the earliest they could get an appointment was three months.
Romulo said he was considering requiring applicants to pay first prior to getting an appointment, similar to the system for applying for a United States visa.”
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100705-279304/OFW-protest-vs-high-passport-fees-spreads
Nang-iinis itong si Chua-Fang!
Magbabayad ka muna bago bigyan ng appointment. Tapos ay pabalikbalikin, papangakuan. Bibigyan ng oras at kapag nahuli dahil sa sobrang trapik na pagdating sa harapan ng DFA ay parang walang katapusan ang pila ay papagalitan ka pa’t tatarayan ng aroganteng empleyado.
Sus! D’yuspuday!
Ok, let’s deal with this alleged INC influence on Romulo.
“Romulo should have exited gracefully when he had the chance. Instead he doggedly worked for his retention. In this regard, several people have informed me that he and his daughter who was (?) an undersecretary of agriculture solicited the help of the Iglesia ni Kristo (INK) for Noynoy to have him retained.
At first, I did not give much credence to the claim. After all, didn’t Noynoy also vow to end patronage politics? But when he was reported to have made a “pilgrimage” to the INK headquarters in the early morning of the day before his inauguration and after Romulo himself announced his retention (“no class”, as Philippine Star columnist Federico Pascual said) I thought, well,”
http://www.malaya.com.ph/07062010/edrey.html
Hindi kaya nagpunta si Noynoy doon sa INC central office ay para magpasalamat sa kanila dahil sa boto na ibinigay sa kanya bagamat autistic sya? At si Noynoy lang ba ang politician na nagpunta sa INC central office pagkatapos ng eleksyon para magpasalamat sa boto ng iglesia lalot lalo na nanalo sila?
Ganoon din ba ang ginawa ni Marcos noong nanalo sya sa pagka presidente, ganoon din ba ang ginawa ni Erap noong nanalo sya sa pagka presidente, si gma ganoon din ba ang ginawa nila? etc…etc….
RE: Hindi ako nasasaktan. Bantad na at parang manhid na pakiramdam ko mula nang magwalanghiya ang walanghiyang pamilya noong 2001. Mahigit siyam na taon ‘yun!
Kapuri-puri ka talaga Katotong MPR…iba ang may pinag-Iganan di ba!
Mahaba na ding panahon ang pakikibaka natin upang bigyan katwiran ang pagmamalabis ng mga lingkod-bulsa sa ating bayan.
Dapat magpasalamat tayo at nagkaroon tayo ng isang MAUNAWAIN at MAPAGPASENSYANG Dakilang MAÁM/TITA/ATE/MOMI Ellen na inaaruga tayo dito sa Ellenville kahit na pagkaminsan e nagiging pilyo tayong manalita.
Political appointees are coterminous with the appointing power. Tapos na si Gloria. Gusto pang humirit si Romulo. Iba ba ang batas sa DFA?
Lahat ng dapat kasuhan ay yon ang ginagawang opisyal ni autistic Noynoy, bakit kaya? – xman
Totoo ba ang balita na si rejected CSAFP Delfin Bangit ay Napolcom Commissioner na rin dahil nagpalakad daw kay Gazmin? Juicekupo, wag naman!
Mukhang hindi ko mami-miss si Gloria.
Ang tingin yata ni Berto kay kuya Noy ay yakang-yaka nya. Sipain mo nga ng dalawang paa ang inutil na yan!
Tongue,
I don’t think it’s true. Given the recent historical past of Bangit, Volt Gazmin doesn’t need him nor will want him. Gazmin is a professional and will recognise that Bangit will be a loaded baggage and will not touch him with a 10-foot pole. And if ever the DILG chief decides to appoint Bangit as NAPOLCOM commissionner, I’m sure Gazmin will be the first to use his very very strong influence with Noynoy Aquino to say “Nay!”.
06 July 2010
Okay, okay, those politicial ambassadors should not be given, even a single day to stay on any longer. But my question is how about those “career ambassadors” who have already overstayed in their assignment. For example, a couple of these “career ambassadors” stationed somewhere in ASEAN are already overstaying. One of them is even bragging that he is extended indefinitely. This Ambassador even claimed he’s closeness to romulo.
May this overstaying “career ambassadors” should be issued their recall orders as well.
By the way, Ms. Ellen, is MC #1 applicable to those contractual employees hired by the different government agencie, including those hired by the Embassies and Consulates-generals?
prans
Romulo is making a bad habit of “blindsiding” his boss. It seems he has no respect at all to Noynoy. Maybe it’s because he earned his reappointment from Ballsy.
The first time, Romulo himself made the announcement of his re-appointment breaking the usual practice that the president will make the announcement. That to me is arrogance, unethical and outright rudeness.
Now he gave himself again the power to extend the tour of duty of several ambassadors, a power which exclusively belongs to the president. One wonders where he got that power. This is usurpation of power of the president.
What the heck. This guy is out of control and he is doing whatever he wants to do. The amazing thing about these things, Noynoy has kept his silence, not even a word of disapproval can be heard from him. Is this his brand of democracy in action? That every member of his official family can do their thing? Is the policy is “To each his own”?
Or is this guy Romulo holding something against him?
Romulo said they needed those three months to wrap up their stint?
The man is perpetuating inefficiency and stupidity in the service. Those political appointees knew very well and have known for quite some time that they were co-terminus with their appointing authority and had all the time in the world to wrap up unfinished business, personal or professional. If they failed to wrap up things before 30 June, it could only be because they’ve been grossly negligent and terribly inefficient. So, why on earth will anyone in his right mind want to keep such embarassing human specimens in the service of the republic?
Romulo’s reason for extending them — outside of the legal basis — doesn’t make sense! Is he so devoid of thinking neurons that he can’t even grasp the most elementary meaning of co-terminus?
Romulo is as professionally useless as a blind bat — he should be terminated illico!
I have no love lost for Romulo. I find him really “Macapal and Macapagal”_no difference between the Two M’s.
This is a slap on the face of P-NOY, and 5-7 strands of hair loss. As Susan Roces said ” Not only Once..but Twice”… 1st was during his visit sa Number 25 Times Street then he pre-empted P-NOY on his retention as DFA Sec, by having mini press conference along Times Street, and the 2nd on this extension, aba, nuong July 01 pa pala nasa desk ni P-NOY yung extension papers eh, sigurado nauna pa ito sa MC-1.
What’s the bottomline here? He (Romulo)Must Go!and for Noynoy to assert his leadership!
Is it time to abolish the FSO @ DFA, kasi puro naman pala political padrino ang puhunan okay ka na.
Will this administration be going ala’ Gloria Arroyo way? From the looks of things, it is headed in that freakin’ direction!
Napakaraming mamamayan ang nagbigay ng tiwala sa iyo Noynoy, huwag mo sanang hayaan mawala ito nang dahil diyan kay Tito Bert ninyo. Aba, Pamilya Aquino lang ang may “Tito” sa kanya, huwag mo kaming idamay…at ayaw kong maging kamag anak iyan.
Yes, Chi… I still remember your “payo” Huwag Mawalan Ng Pag-asa sa Pilipinas. Alas! I held to that “pag-asa” from Noy’s running for the presidency, until July 01, 2010…Well… all good things must come to an end. So soon…sigh..sigh..sigh..
akala ko ba “hands off ang mga kapatid” ni PNoy? bakit nakialam ang kapatid (na akala ko tahimik..nagising ata na salaki ng kapangyarihan ng kapatid at “ate: siya)…sa mga maraming “unofficial” na alam..bakit “reportedly” ang pagsabi at hindi “it is reported” hakahaka lang ba? o putting words in Ballsy’s mouth? ang gulo gulo ng mga repors…makatulog na nga!
Totoo ba ang balita na si rejected CSAFP Delfin Bangit ay Napolcom Commissioner na rin dahil nagpalakad daw kay Gazmin? Juicekupo, wag naman! — TonGuE-tWisTeD
Tongue, wala akong alam kung ano na ang nangyari kay CSAFP D. Bangit. Ang sinusundan ko lang ay yong trend na mga ginagawa ni Noynoy.