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.
