DFA statement:
On Tiglao:The DFA confirms the non-extension of the tour of duty of Ambassador Tiglao in Greece. He has been notified of it.
On Benedicto:President Aquino signed the nomination of Francisco Benedicto as Philippine ambassador to Beijing. The nomination paper will be submitted to the Commission on Appointment, and he will come home for the confirmation hearing once Congress resumes session.
Update: Yesterday afternoon (Oct. 14) Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo called up Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello and told him that Tiglao will not be retained as ambassador to Greece. Akbayan members in Greece are among those protesting the Romulo’s tolerance of Tiglao in Athens despite lack of legal authority.
While President Aquino expressed concerned over decision of the Supreme Court favoring the midnight appointments of Gloria Arroyo, his secretary of foreign affairs is condoning, even supporting, the illegal stay of Arroyo’s appointees in their foreign posts.
The other day, members of the Filipino community in Greece staged a rally in front of the Philippine Embassy in Athens protesting the continued stay of former ambassador Rigoberto Tiglao in his post.
Francisco Benedicto, also refuses to return to Manila holding on to the appointment signed by Arroyo as basis for his continued stay in Beijing.
It’s a mess out there at the DFA and the foreign secretary either encourages it as in the case of Tiglao or clueless as in the case of Benedicto.
It must be recalled that there was a controversy over the extension of the stay in their posts of 21 political ambassadors appointed by Arroyo after June 30, 2010. Since all political appointees are co-terminus with the appointing power, it goes without saying that when Arroyo’s term ended noon of June 30, 2010, they no longer had any legal authority as of 12:01 of June 30, 2010.
Romulo misled Malacañang into thinking that relations with countries where these political appointees were posted would suffer if they were to return to the Philippines without a replacement. Unfamiliar with foreign affairs matters, Aquino believed Romulo.
That was wrong. In foreign service, in the absence of the ambassador the number two officer takes over as charge d’affaires or officer-in-charge. Under the Vienna Convention on Foreign Relations, the host country recognizes the authority of the charge d’affaires.
Because of that wrong and scheming advice, all the 21 political ambassadors were given extension , “in a holdover capacity for a period of three months effective noon of 30 June 2010.” Three months from June 30 is September 30, 2010.
The extension itself is illegal because the President has no power to extend a non-existent appointment. What he has is the power to appoint. If he wants them to continue serving in their posts, he will have to give them new appointments.
They would have to get confirmation by the Commission on Appointments, get an agrément from the host country. Only after completing this process can the ambassador assume his post.
The Union of Foreign Service Officers decided not to bring the issue of illegal extension to court in deference to the new president. September 30 has passed. Most of the 21 ambassadors have come home. But not all. Tiglao and Benedicto are among those who refuse to give up their posts.
A DFA source said, Tiglao, one of the most trusted advisers of Arroyo, has requested that he be extended up to Dec. 31, 2010. The DFA issued this official statement on Tiglao: “The extension of the tours of duty of political ambassadors, including Ambassador Tiglao, expired Sept. 30. The most senior foreign service officer at post, Career Minister Constancio Vingno, assumed as charge d’affairs at the Philippine Embassy in Athens on 1 Oct.”
Our source said Tiglao does not report to the embassy but he continues to stay in the ambassador’s residence and he has not started to pack. That’s because Romulo has assured him he will get his wish. Romulo’s daughter, Agriculture Undersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, is lobbying for him.
News reports from Athens said the protesters the protesters belong to Filipino organization Kasapi Hellas who accused Tiglao of not being helpful to Filipinos in Greece. In their statement, the group said, “In a news release, Athens-based Filipino organization Kasapi Hellas urged President Benigno Aquino III not to re-appoint Tiglao, saying he has not done much to assist Filipinos in Greece.”
GMA News reported that Tiglao, who now writes a column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer (something which some DFA officers are questioning), declined to comment on the allegations of Kasapi Hellas saying he was “on leave and the matter was “sensitive.”
The case of Benedicto is even more anomalous.
He was able to wangle the appointment as ambassador to China December 2009, six months before the end of Arroyo’s appointment.
There’s a rule among career foreign service officers not to be given foreign assignment if he has less than three years before retirement. Because that the length of time one needs to be effective in his post. One needs at least one year to familiarize with issues and establish network in his post.
Anyway, Benedicto assumed his Beijing post before the May 2010 elections but he was only able to present his credentials last Sept. 30. Those papers said he was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Gloria Arroyo.
Benedicto has refused to return to Manila. He has no appointment signed by President Aquino. If he has, he should pass through the CA and get another agrément.
Sources at the DFA said Aquino has asked businessman Alfredo Yao of Zest –O Corporation to be his ambassador to China.
If Tiglao and Benedicto refuse to come home, Berto only has to cancel their passports…mahirap ba yan gawin? PNoy does not have to do anything, just order Berto to send them words to come home or else bahala sila kung gusto nilang mag-TnT sa Greece and Beijing or kahit sa Timbukto!
“Our source said Tiglao does not report to the embassy but he continues to stay in the ambassador’s residence and he has not started to pack. That’s because Romulo has assured him he will get his wish. Romulo’s daughter, Agriculture Undersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, is lobbying for him.”
__
Nampucha! Taragis! Tangna!!!
Tigukin na kasi ang mayabang na Berto, pati ang anak! Bwisit sila!
I hope that PNoy got the balls to fire these clingy people who are giving him more problems and bad image. Ipakita mo na Noy, please na meron ka….sampolan mo kasi hindi si Nilo lang na hindi mo kilala!
Pnoy should complete appointing his own ambassadors and send them to their posts immediately, bahala na ang mga pekeng ambassadors if they wanted to challenge the new appointments of PNoy’s ambas.
Dioskoday, una na kasi dapat tsinupi si Berto e!
The new administration could hire hit men to eliminate these two envoys who refuse to return home.
Ang problema kay PNoy masyado siyang malambot sa mga kaibigan at kakilala,kung noong una pa man ay tinanggal na si Romulo di wala sanang problema na ganyan.Mr President manindigan ka naman,100 days ka pa lng diyan andami nang palpak na nangyari sa gobyerno mo dahil sa mga kaibigang nakapalibot sa iyo.Ang masaklap nito damay kami na nangampanya sa iyo noong eleksyon dahil sa bawat kapalpakan na nangyayari sa iyo marami rin akong batikos na inaabot sa mga taong sinusuyo ko noon at pinaniwala na ikaw na ang pagasa ng bayan at kabaligtaran ni pandakekak,pero ang masakit unti unting lumalabas na ang style mo ay may bahid glurella din,palakasan system pa rin ang umiiral,,haisttt!
Noynoy Aquino is a weak president. A pussy, if you will. This is the reason why he can’t let go of his three stooges. He must have his gang mates, shooting mates, golf mates, bading mates, or whatever the stooges are to him.
He is a ‘balut penoy,’ an unhatched duck egg in its early stage. He is not ready for prime time. The people he listens to, it seems, are people who knows nothing of governance like Romulo’s strongest supporter and lobbyist for instance is supposed to be one of penoys sister.
Can you just imagine six years of bungling and indecisive action? Whew, yari na naman pinoys. Nampusa, napaka gullible naman kasi natin. Puwede na sana kahit balut e penoy pala.
At itong mga distraction na mga girlfriends, kuno. Who the f*ck cares about his love life? Baka virgin ba kamo yan. Yung bayan ang atupagin mo.
That’s President Noynoy’s nature. If he has a soft heart, why blame him? But in a way, being too soft could affect his leadership and decision making. He should learn the lesson from former President Estrada…too soft and trusting to his friends and officials who later betrayed him.
Well he is no different from his mother, if not worse. I would say the amateurism in the presidency is unprecedented under him.
I was too young to care about politics under Cory’s time. But I read somewhere that Enrile or Honasan attempted a coup but Cory punished him with a slap on the wrist. Cory set a precedent for military adventurism.
I partly agree with you, NFA rice. Noynoy is no different from his mom. Both depend and listen to their friends. They are not good decision makers.
By the way, how’s your boss Lito Banayo? I think he’s a good man.
2b1ask1,
He’s fine. Kinain ang sinabi na “we are swimming in rice”. Nabusog tuloy. A pity hindi garlic fried rice galing emerald.
Hoy abnoynoy bo2 bumaba kana… You’re FIRED!
NFA rice, thanks. I wonder where his friend Nixon Kua is. I think Lito recommended a government position for Nixon.
2b1ask1,
Sorry I don’t know them personally or anyone here for that matter. I just like the “NFA rice” as a handle. It reminds me of the story 7 years of plenty and the 7 years of famine in the Bible.
#5… Isa ka rin pala sa nabola at naniwala sa isang abnoy. Kelan pa naging maganda ang sistema ng pamilyang aquino (ninoy, cory @ abnoy). Marami di2 hindi marunong kumilatis sa mga kandidato noon kaya yan naging katawa-tawa ang ating bansa dahil ang napili ninyong presidente walang dunong… nalagas na ang buhok at tabingi na ang lips ni abnoy dala ng kunsimisyon sa mga cabinet members niya at siya na rin.
It’s too early to say if the people made the right or wrong choice of electing Noynoy. To me, he was mainly elected due to the popularity of his late parents. Mismong yaya niya ang umamin na tanghali na kung gumising si Noynoy at lagi siya ang huling handa sa pag-alis. Kailangan siyang hintayin ng pamilya sa mga lakad. He might have brought his habit up to this day in Malacanang.
About 57% of the voters did not vote for Noynoy. This is a comforting fact to think about when the going gets tough and the weak stops going.
2b1ask1,
Maybe he contemplates plans and projects late into the night? Or maybe learning public service through SimCity or Farmville.
Wow, dati ako ang palaging bumabatikos kay Pnoy. I am a little bit more forgiving coz he was left with a lot of rotten eggs and an empty bag. Look at what the SC boys are doing to him. Puro alagad ni pandak!
If Pnoy will not put his foot down and say “enough is enough”, marami pa diyan ang mga katulad si Tiglao at Benedicto, mga pasaway. Nasanay kasi sa “pandak ways” where they got their way as long as pandak got hers.
Hindi como napalitan ang presidente eh magiiba na rin ang ugali ng mga Filipino. It is a long way to go. Marami pang kailangang linisan. This is why I really do not criticize Pnoy for picking his trusted friends because maybe this is way of being able to clean the government. Kaya lang itong choices niya kay Davide, Romulo at Puno ang ayaw ko. But with thousand other appointees, maybe I can look the other way. Gusto ko lang talaga na makakatulong siya sa pagbabago ng bansa. I few rotten eggs here and there will not bother me. Kaya naman ni Pnoy silang pastulan. Kaibigan niya yang mga yan eh!
Starting your day late is not an indication of inability to work right. May mga taong mas maganda ang concentration later in the day.
Speaking of Truth Commission, when is it going to start investigating Arroyo? Picking Davide was one of Noynoy’s biggest mistake this early.
PSB, yan lang naman tatlong itlog na yan ang inaayawan ng kapinuyan sa simula pa. Others, sabi mo nga e pwede ng pagtiyagaan hanggang matuto. Ow…ang lecheng si Merceditas pa pala!
Chi, hindi naman si Pnoy ang pumili kay Chedeng. Isinusuka nga ni Pnoy yan!
Uy nagsilabasan ang mga multiple personalities na naman, nagsasagutan pa? 🙂
well, its good that these things came up this early in the game…at least we know who are with us and who are against us already…get ready to rumble!!!
When some people see nothing but shit, most of us are enjoying the open floodgates! Keep up the good work Mr. President! 🙂
http://www.bworldonline.com/
Jug, wala akong multiple personality. If you voice out a negative opinion on someone, it does not mean you disdain that person. Lalong hindi maganda yung nakapako ka na lang sa isang opinion. I am not defending Pnoy like you do na parang siya na ang “cure it all”. I did not say I am 100% for Pnoy. I said, I want to give him a chance to prove himself. That was my position then and now. Nothing has changed. I am not defending him as fiercely as you do.
But kay bansot, it was different because from day one she grabbed power and until she stepped down (sapilitan pa!) I really HATED her with passion!
psb: Don’t think Jug is referring to you. Para ka na namang bago rito; look at the multiple personalities above you – iisang tao, agreeing with each other or disagreeing or whatever, it’s like freak show…wink! wink!
psb,
ikaw naman, you know naman i’m not referring to you…i love you pare! 🙂
oops, mukhang hindi yata maganda dating nun?,,, 🙂
A check on the website of the Commission on Appointments reveal that President Aquino as of October 1, nominated 6 to ambassadorial posts. Ambassador Tiglao is not nominated but Ambassador Benedicto is.
President Aquino may have asked Mr. Yao to be his envoy to China but (atleast on paper) as of October 1, the nominee to the post is Ambassador Benedicto.
Heh,heh,heh masyado yata akong naging defensive and onion skinned.
Jug, mare ako kaya ok lang…heh,heh,heh.
Ellen or the Admin can determine who Jug is referring to regarding multiple personalities here by looking at their IP address. :P.
Naging polularidad ang mga aquino dahil sa pagpatay sa ama pero hindi alam ng pinoy gawa ng reagan administrasyon… ang isa rin kupal na presidente ng amerika. Pero pasensya na mas maraming botante sa atin bopols.
#17… 57% di bomoto kay abnoy, 43% remaining pa… so half ng 43% galing sa INC or iglesia ni cristo. Kaya nun pa man election sinusuka na ang pamilya aquino. Dahil din sa matinding pangangailanga ng INC yun sumawsaw sa pulitika.
Yes, Marc. Benedicto has again proven to be the ultimate survivor/balimbing.
Now, even if he has been nominated, you don’t assume the post unless you have been confirmed by the Commission on Appointments and given an agrément. As of today, he has not been confirmed by the CA yet.
The agrémenthe got was on the appointment of Gloria Arroyo. That has long expired. Arroyo ceased to be president June 30, 2010.
kapit-tuko…only in the pilipyn…
A foreign service official told me that the position DFA took, and this is supported by Malacañang, is that Benedicto does not need another agrément from the People’s Republic of China because the fact that he had been accepted before means that he is okay to them.
So he need not come home.
Oh well.
The date of his appointment is Oct. 1, 2010.
Other names submitted for confirmation to the Commission on Appointments:
Manolo Lopez – Japan
Ma. Consuelo Puyat- Reyes- Chile (she has a franchise for the Chile post. She is very old but she feels God has given her that post)
Mercedes Tuason- Vatican
Noe Wong – Cambodia (this is a re-appointment. He was one of the military and police officials rewarded by Gloria Arroyo with ambassadorial posts. Expect others like Yano, Senga, Querol, De Leon etc etc. to also be re-appointed)
Wilfrido Villacorta – ASEAN vice Orly Mercado
DFA statement:
On Tiglao:
The DFA confirms the non-extension of the tour of duty of Ambassador Tiglao in Greece. He has been notified of it.
On Benedicto:
President Aquino signed the nomination of Francisco Benedicto as Philippine ambassador to Beijing. The nomination paper will be submitted to the Commission on Appointment, and he will come home for the confirmation hearing once Congress resumes session.
PSB, ibig kong sabihin e sipain na nya via his alter egos sa tongress. 🙂
#31. Marc, ay sus na naman. PNoy might not know that Berto had him ulit. Akala ni Noy e yung pabor nya, yun pala kay Berto pa.
Ma. Consuelo Puyat- Reyes- Chile (she has a franchise for the Chile post. She is very old but she feels God has given her that post)-Ellen
Bwahahahahaha!!! That was a good one!
Noe Wong – Cambodia (this is a re-appointment. He was one of the military and police officials rewarded by Gloria Arroyo with ambassadorial posts. Expect others like Yano, Senga, Querol, De Leon etc etc. to also be re-appointed)-Ellen
Sa kanila palagi ang langit, bwisit!
O sya…Bobby Tiglao, lumayas ka na dyan sa Greece… ang lawak ng Pampanga join ka na lang sa unana meron syang naitakas na P2.2 bilyon para sa inyong probinsya. Dun siguradong tuloy ang ligaya mo.
Among the carried over envoys, I admire and respect Siazon more. I think he was DFA Sec under President Estrada and then remained as Envoy to Japan.
Ellen, The former AFP chief who was appointed acting CS by Noynoy has also been named ambassador to Brunei. Ex-Gen. Nestor Ochoa is the latest among ex-military men appointed to an ambassadorial post.
Bakit ba laki ng duda ako pag may naa-appoint na Ochoa?
Iniwan na ni Manolo Lopez ng tuluyan ang Meralco para maging ambassador sa Japan. Well, wala na rinlang naman silang boses sa Meralco matapos paghatian nina Danding Cojuangco/Ramon Ang at Manny Pangilinan ang board ng Meralco.
Si Baby Puyat-Reyes naman, hindi na niya kailangan ang posisyong ambassador para makipagsosyalan lang. Baka naman may asim pa ang matandang biyuda ni Greggy kaya nasa Chile. Bilyon ang halaga ng pinagbentahan ng lupa nila sa Sta. Ana Race Track kaya paldong-paldo ang ale. Kaya niyang gumastos sa sariling bulsa kahit saan sa mundo siya tumira. Iba siyempre pag libre. Kaya lang sabi sa report, yung anak ni Romulo, Puyat ang asawa. Gets nyo? Gamitin ninyo itong ruler ko.
Si Mercedes Tuason ay asawa ng pinsan ni FG Pidal-Arroyo. Na ipinalit kay Cristina Ponce-Enrile sa Phil. Embassy sa Vatican ni Putot. Kunsabagay, kahit mapudpod ang nguso niya kahahalik sa singsing ni PapaRatzi, hindi kayang burahin ang mga kasalanan ng pinsan niya at asawang demonya.
Si Noe Wong ay kapitan noong panahon ni Cory, at senior aide ni Enrile – ang pinakamatinding kalaban ng nanay ni Noynoy noon.
Wala akong problema kay Dr. Villacorta, propessor ng La Salle, dati na siyang deputy secretary general ng ASEAN. Siya dapat ang nasa pwesto hindi si Super Balimbing Orly Mercado ng dating “Kapwa Ko, Trinaydor Ko”.
Sorry, “Kapwa Ko, Mahal Ko” pala.
Yan ang ruler na hinahanap ko, tongue. 🙂
“Kapwa Ko, Trinaydor Ko”. Napakalutong na LOL!!!
I wonder if this ex-Gen. Nestor Ochoa is related to Executive Sec. Ochoa. Is this Noe Wong the former Admiral who exposed the anomaly within the Navy?
Problem with all these guys in the upper echelons of society is that they absolutely have no shame… no delicadeza, no dignity. Crocodile-alligator skinned shitheads of the worst order.