But their hopes were dashed as quickly as they were raised because it has been confirmed that Romulo succeeded in convincing President Aquino again to let him stay until April this year.
Our sources at the DFA and Malacañang said the suspended departure of Romulo has created awkward situations as demonstrated by a scene at the recent vin d’ honneur in Malacañang. Members of the diplomatic community were all greeting del Rosario because it’s known in the community that he was assuming the position anytime that week.
Cabinet members have been told to coordinate with del Rosario on matters concerning foreign relations.
That was the same instruction given to Presidential Adviser for Peace Process Ging Deles.Those who are lobbying to be appointed or re-appointed ambassadors have also been told “to go see Albert.”
What now? With the retention of Romulo, everything is again at a standstill at the DFA. Oh well, what’s the difference? It has not been moving forward for a long, long time.
Our source said Aquino gave in again to the entreaties of Romulo and his family because he said, he has scheduled meetings with his counterparts in other countries. What for is he pushing with those meetings if he was on the way out? One DFA official sarcastically said, “To collect his per diem and allowances.” In fact in the recent meeting of foreign ministers in Lombok, Indonesia, a source said Romulo just stayed overnight and left before the retreat proper.
Former Amb. Reynaldo Arcilla has written about Romulo’s anomalous and pathetic practice of putting his personal driver and maid in the government payroll. He did this while he was executive secretary and it’s being done in the DFA, Arcilla said. Arcilla wrote:
“Ms. Marisa Adra, born 23 September 1975, with second year high school education in Taguig High School and holder of a TESDA National Certificate II in Household Services, has been doing household work for the Romulos since 1995. She was listed as Technical Assistant in the Office of the Executive Secretary (Romulo), Malacañang, from 2001 to 2003 with a salary of P16,792/mo.
When Romulo was moved to the DFA in 2005, he put Adra in the payroll ostensibly as personal secretary at P15,000/mo. up to January 2010. She is now supposedly a contractual employee at P13,535/mo.
Adra’s husband, Antonio, the family driver, is also listed as an employee in the DFA with contact number 8344160 which turned out to be the Office of the Secretary.
Neither one reports to the DFA.
DFA insiders have more embarrassing stories not only of the foreign secretary but his wife, Lovely. In ASEAN meetings, the host takes care of hotel accommodation. One time, the meeting was in Singapore and Romulo brought along his wife. The source said Mrs. Romulo made purchases at the hotel gift shop and charged it to the hotel. The Singapore government upon getting the bill from the hotel informed the DFA that they could not cover Mrs. Romulo’s gift shop purchases.
Another source also said one time when Romulo went to Australia, Mrs. Romulo was not with him but she asked a member of the foreign secretary’s delegation to buy her beef. She didn’t give any money. The consulate didn’t have the budget for Mrs. Romulo’s “bilin” so the poor guy used his per diem to buy Mrs. Romulo’s beef worth 800 Australian dollars. The source said the poor guy was not reimbursed for it.
These stories come out because of foreign service officers’ frustration over the situation in the DFA.
I’m not at all surprised. I have said it time and again that Romulo will do everything to cling to his position and President Aquino does not have the spine to say “No” even if he himself does not have high regards for Gloria Arroyo’s foreign secretary whom he retained on the lobbying of his sisters and the Iglesia ni Cristo.
So it’s back to the same situation after the May election last year when Aquino asked former Trade and Industry Secretary Juan Santos (he is now chairman of the board of the Social Security System) to be foreign secretary. Santos accepted the offer only to be told a few days after by Aquino, “I’m sorry Johnny, the DFA position reverts to Bert Romulo.”
Now, after del Rosario has been convinced to be foreign secretary and to assume the position end of January 2011, he was told again that Romulo was allowed to stay until April. One reason given was that they are looking for a position to give Romulo, “to ease the exit.”
One remarked that it has to be a well-paying job because he now would have to pay for the salaries of his maid and driver. Unless of course, that would be arranged in the next office he would go to.
Romulo asked for the chairmanship of the Commission of Audit but a Malacañang official said, “He won’t get that.” There is talk that he is eyeing a seat in the Monetary Board.
One DFA official said in disgust, “Why is it the problem of the Filipino people to find a source of income for a non-performing 78-year old government official?”
Why not assign him ambassador to Afghanistan or Lebanon? Or better yet North Korea. Kahit walang PHL embassy sa mga lugar na yan 😛
Create an office in Malacanang. He can physically occupy an office close to Mar Roxas.
Mar Roxas will be the Chief Troubleshooter, Romulo the Chief Troublemaker. So each created office justifies the creation of the other.
Berto Romulo has scheduled meetings with his counterparts in foreign countries so his appointment was stretched to April. How lame could they get in the Palace?! For crying out loud, stop the alibis and see this DFA chief as himself, an incompetent and mahilig sa per diem!
The title of this article is apt, “Wanted: a well-paying job for Romulo”, that which has lots of per diem. O kaya ipatuka na lang sa buwaya!
Bumili ng gifts, ipinabayad sa DFA; nagpabili ng beef gusto ring ipabayad sa DFA. Ano ba naman si Mrs. Berto at saksakan ng walanghiya!
Personal na katulong at driver sumusweldo sa gobyerno! Sigurado hindi sya nag-iisa sa practice na ganyan, pero sya ang naireklamo…so dapat aksyunan kaagad ng tumpak.
For so long Berto has been using our money to pay his personal services, how low can these couple get?
Tsugiin na nga yan oy, Pnoy!
Unbelievable! Putting a personal maid on govt payroll as personal secretary? Fictitious employment! Now, that is what I’d call corruption!
By gum, what are the guys in DFA waiting for? Pounce on incompetent and corrupt Alberto Romulo! He’s taking the Filipinos for a ride.
(Incidentally, former President Chirac who is now 78, has just refunded City of Paris or face court litigations and corruption proceedings the amount of money — full amount + interest, paid to someone he put on the city hall payroll while he was mayor of Paris because said person was relative of his second in command even if said “employee” had performed off and on consulting work for his office. French courts found employment was fictitious. No rest for the wicked!)
The Filipino people mustn’t allow these bits of corruption go unchecked before they morph into unstoppable, gargantuan acts of looting!
If Mr Romulo wanted a maid for him or his family, then he should pay her from his own pocket. Why should the Filipino taxpayers shoulder the burden? He’s receiving a monthly pay, then he should have the decency not to steal!
One of the members of Sarkozy’s advisers in the Elysée, an important member of his cabinet has a Filipina maid who had been flown in from Greece but rest assured that she is being paid out of his own pocket. There’s no way she could be put on the payroll of the Elysée lest he be guillotined by the press and the public.
Eeek, “One of the members of Sarkozy’s advisory group in the Elysée…”
As Henry’s former boss would say, “You wouldn’t even hire him as your cook!”
(meaning incompetent Alberto!)
Anna, I’m in awe of the French system and culture that do not tolerate petty anomalies like this.
The Union of Foreign Service Officers now has a new set of officers who are meek and uncomplaining.
But these things have been written about and brought to the attention of Malacañang. They know. It’s really a matter of values and lack of spine and appreciation of the importance of foreign relations in governance.
I had withheld writing for a long time about those incidents re Mrs. Romulo charging her gift shop purchases to the Singapore government and her Australian beef “purchases” because it’s so embarrassing.
I felt compelled to bring it out because he is so kapal, he doesn’t care about the country as long as he has a position in government that allows him and his family to live in comfort. And PNoy tolerates this!
Whaaat? You serious???? Don’t they have the least bit of shame?
Good Lord! I won’t be surprised if the govts of those nations look at Pinoy govt with utter contempt.
How despicable and as you say, kapal!!! If they want to be that kapal, they should do it on their own free time when they are no longer representing the govt of the Philippines and the Filipino people.
Mga walanghiyang mag-asawang Romulo!!!
Ellen,
They [members of the DFA] must have the moral courage to denounce and file appropriate charges against Mr Romulo.
In fact these people despite the name and so-called education and station in life are nothing but lowly pataygutoms!
Anna, mahirap ang maging public servant. Madali rin sa ating kutyain sila. Pero sila itong matapang na pinili ang public service kaysa sa private service kung saan ‘di hamak naman na mas mataas pa ang matatanggap na pasahod. Hindi ako magtataka kung mas mataas pa ang natatanggap na sahod ng ilang OFW kaysa sa mga taga-embassy/consulate.
Baka si Secretary Romulo lang ang kumikita talaga.
Marc,
Sorry if I’ve not been clear. I’m not belittling public servants of the DFA who are doing their jobs well but don’t get the same perks as Mr Romulo at all and instead are caught in a crossfire because their boss bring the department an image of incompetence and shame.
My statement “In fact these people despite the name and so-called education and station in life are nothing but lowly pataygutoms!” are intended for the Romulo couple who take advantage of their position and the largesse of the Filipino people but bring shame to the country and its people.
Ellen,
Truly, Mr Romulo, any way one looks at it has outlived whatever usefulness he had in the Aquino govt when they abuse. Surely, Mr Aquino is not so daft as not to see this.
At 78, Mr Romulo must have some savings for the rest of his old age and that of his wife and need no longer commit petty thievery from govt. If he failed to plan for his retirement, he cannot be so walanghiya as to continue to impose his incompetent self on the country and milk the DFA of its meagre rations.
Mr Romulo, you are incompetent, useless and a petty thief and you must go.
Re #14, Anne, details of those two nakakahiyang incidents:
Yes, Ellen, have read it. And I’m appalled. It’s just sooo embarassing. So despicable. No dignity at all! And imagine being told by the Singaporean govt that she needed to pay for her personal purchases?
Reminds me of a CGPAF (accompanied by wife) who was official guest of Ministry of Defence during Bourget Air Show here. They were billeted in hotel which was paid for by Ministry. Wife did a bit of shopping in the hotel charged to room. She also had a massage daily during their stay. Ministry official escort was shocked when the couple was checking out to find that costs had ballooned. Escort was more upfront and said to French defence attache that it wouldn’t do, that couple had to pay for the extras. Military attaché, a very good friend turned to me and said, this is embarassing, what should I do? I said, either you pay out of your pocket or your office’s budget or submit it to a member of his [CGPAF’s) delegation to settle.
Finally, some Pinoy broker who had accompanied the couple, perhaps, in an attempt to further please the wife, picked up the rest of the tab; it so happened that said Pinoy broker had already paid for other shoppings that wife had made including meals and other things for the other wives that accompanied the delegation including pasalubongs that the wife had gotten for members of her family back home. Poor Pinoy broker! At the same time, I’m sure he would pass off the expenses he made for that visit to whatever air force contract he would be making 🙂
There are many more stories of abuses of hospitality of this kind. 😉
The Singapore government sent the letter to the DFA. That’s why we learned about it. I don’t know how the DFA settled the issue because how could you account to the Commission on Audit purchases of the wife?
It seems it’s a common practice among wives of Filipino officials as your own experience showed.
I’m for Sax’s suggestion, it takes care of the short term and isolates the problem without causing new ones.
Ugh! Did Mrs Romulo have the decency to pay for her personal purchases? Or were they passed off to taxpayers to pick up?
I imagine the DFA must have apologised to the Singaporean foreign affairs for the [willfull] “oversight”…How embarassing!
As a Filipino, I find it offensive that the wife of the official who has been tasked with embodying the dignity of the presidency and by extension the nation should act so shamelessly.
Ellen, The couple’s petty thieving smacks of kleptomanic behaviour! Yuck!
If Romulo were working for my husband, he would be fired right away! Hubby won’t even bring home pens or stationery or plastic envelops or whatever from his office saying not right. Even his personal calls from his mobile phone are deducted from his pay sheet. And when we are invited by foreign entities/govts on official function and during which our hotel billet and transport costs are paid by hosts, I would never, never dare charge my personal purchases to room. Would bring shame to my husband and his function. And none of the other wives would do something of the sort either.
My dad who has a kumpadre, a judge. Every time this judge and wifey would go to HK, he would call my dad to meet up (my dad used to work in HK). My dad would accompany him to lunch or dinner plus shopping. Sadly, my dad who can’t seem to say no would always pick up the tab. Funny thing though, my dad never asked any favor from this guy (no reason to since he never had any trouble with the law or needed anything from this guy).
Buti nalang RIP na si judge. Hehehe 😛
Alberto_Romulo: PNOy ako aalisin mo? Aba! nakalimutan mo na ba ang sinabi mo sa inagurasyon mo, AKO ang isa sa BOSS mo. …..pathetic…. ang baku bakong daan ni Noy Noy
Ang attitude ni Bertong Romulo ay nakakahiyang pag-uugali ng isang katulad niya na Hepe ng DFA, sa buong mundo, at pinababayaan naman ng Pangulo ng bansa. Siya ang nagdadala ng mukha ng Pilipinas sa ibang bansa. Ang patungkol sa ” Australian Beef ” at Singapore incidents, na gawa-gawa ni Mrs. Romulo, at kaso ng maid at driver, ay sapat na malaking kahihiyan, mahirap maitago. Bakit nandiyan pa iyan at pina-aabot pa ng Abril, isara na ang opisina niya, kandaduhan na. Baka may ” agimat ” din iyan, katulad ni GMA, na lantaran kung gumawa ng di tama, ngunit, itong taong bayan, at pamunuan mga manhid sa pagbigay ng tamang aral sa kanila. Kawa-wa ang susunod na henerasyon, tiyak gagayahin ang stilo nila, lalo na kung lahing Romulo uli, ang isusunod na yayapak sa kanilang pinangalingan-tungkulin, as a cycle. Pangulong Pnoy naman, tigasan at gawing mong bakal ang iyong desisyon, na pabor sa “boss” mo o taong bayan, Huwag pipilay-pilay. Isa-kripisyo mo na ang 78-years old, marami na iyang na-itago na sapat sa retirement nilang mag-asawa. Please give a chance to deserving DFA officer like, Mr. Alberto del Rosario.
Lumalabas tuloy na “baku-baku” o pilay-na-pilay ang desisyon ni PNOY, sa halip na itutuwid niya. Baliktad yata, Si Bertong ang “bossing” at hindi sa Juan de la Cruz.
@ Rudolfo: Parang hindi yata DFA officer si Ambassador del Rosario.
What a despicable duo. And I used to respect this man when he was still a senator. Was he always like this even when he was a senator?
Marami palang kabulastugan itong si Tatang Berto. I thought he was a man of honor and integrity. Dapat sa kanya mag retiro na lang tutal wala na naman talaga siya maitutulong para sa bayan.
Just got a note from a source in the DFA that Romulo did not attend the Foreign Ministers retreat in Lombok, Indonesia,
Jug re #40. Napakatagal na ngang issue ito.And I don’t see an end to this very soon.
Lovely, ba ang pangalan ng kanyang asawa? what an insult to the meaning of the word..”lovely”
okay, okay.. April this year… approved! last na yan ha… 🙂
I seriously doubt, Perl. If PNoy does not have the spine to make a decision before and now in the interest of the country’s foreign relations, I doubt if he will ever develop one.
But I’d be very happy to be surprised.
pagnakita ko itong mandurugas na ito dito sa labas,talagang tatadyakan ito!!!!
There must be no let up… This petty thief has got to go.
from former amb. rey arcilla’s column:
“Some people think Alberto Romulo will become an ex-foreign secretary not too long from now. The reason: he has been signing assignments of his “favorites” in the DFA to their obvious choice of posts.
First and foremost is Anne Louis whom Romulo had recently promoted to the rank of career minister. He especially picked her to be chief coordinator of the DFA, a post reserved for senior chiefs of mission (ambassadors) when she was still an FSO I. Now he is letting her go as Consul General to Sydney, a post normally occupied by a chief of mission.
Another favorite, Mario de Leon, who was assigned not too long ago as ambassador to South Africa, is going back to New York as Consul General. He has in the past been twice assigned to New York, once in the Consulate General and later in the Philippine Mission to the UN. De Leon was chief coordinator of Romulo before Pretoria. His immediate family reportedly lives in New York.
Another favored officer, Adel Cruz, who was also recently promoted to career minister, has been assigned as consul general to Xiamen, China, again a post normally held by an officer with chief of mission rank.
And there are many of them around, I mean officers with chief of mission rank, without assignments. “
obviously, romulo is able to do what he has been doing only with the help of people close to him, who are “loyal” to him and will do what he wants them to do.
the most important are his people in the administrative offices. no one will beat the personnel assistant secretary jun dilem on this matter. amb. arcilla reported already on cause to investigate nepotism, but again, even under the administration of pnoy, nothing happened.
Haaaaaay…
Hindi ba si Ate Balsy ang backer ni Romulo? Paano mapaalis ni Pnoy si Romulo..utos ni Ate..ano kayo? Hindi kaya partner ni Ate…sa pagsayaw ng waltz si Mulong?
From the boondocks to civilization na naman si Guido. Greeting to all mga katribo!
Tsugiin na nga yan oy, Pnoy! – Madame Chi
Madame Chi ano ang “Tsugiin”? ;8)) Are you referring to the sound of a muffled 9-mm Gloc pistol in a combat shooting mode? If so, I think, Bertong Kupal is ready for that! Tingnan mo yong picture niya sa itaas, parang sinadyang pang-funeraria, kulang na lang yong ataol na pagpapatungan, di ba Madame? ;8))
Si Prez Noy naman kasi eh nasubrahan na yata ng kakain ng Tondaligan Boneless Bangus kaya ayaaaaan naapektuhan na yata ang kanyang spinal chord! Susmaryajosepa naman namaaan! Prez Noy TSUGIIN mo naaaaah!!! ;8))
pagnakita ko itong mandurugas na ito dito sa labas,talagang tatadyakan ito!!!! – patriaadorada
May I take a picture when you do that Pat, para ipost natin dito sa site ni Ms Ellen? Siguraduhin mong magkabalibali ang kanyang mga paa ha, at bigyan mo ng isang solid na round-kick doon sa panga para magmukhang baboon lalo! HAAAAIIIII….YAAAAA!!! KAAAABLAAAG!!! ;8))
Hindi ba si Ate Balsy ang backer ni Romulo? Paano mapaalis ni Pnoy si Romulo..utos ni Ate..ano kayo? Hindi kaya partner ni Ate…sa pagsayaw ng waltz si Mulong? -rose
Nakow kung ito na nga ang scenario, mahirap ngang maTSUG tong si Bertong Kupal! Ms Rose palagay ko ang remedyo kung ito nga ang situasyon eh hanap tayo ng susulot kay Bertong Kupal para idump ni Ate Bals, ‘yon solve ang problem. Siya pa ngayon ang maguutos kay Prez Noy na TSUGIN ang hinayupak na BABOON na yan! KUPAAAAAL!!! ;8))
Haaaaaay… – Ms Ellen
I wish I could put this in a frame! Hahaha! Napabuntong Hininga tuloy si Ms Ellen dahil sa Bertong Kupal na eto!!!
Di bale Ms Ellen tatadyakan naman ni Pat para sa ating lahat, sana echo derecho na para magamit sa funerary yong pang-ataol kodak niya sa taas. Hahaha!
okay, okay.. April this year… approved! last na yan ha… – perl
Pareng Perl baka naman pagdating ng April sa taon na eto eh may magsasabi na naman, na April nga pero sa next year pa. Haha! Yari na naman si Juan de la Cruz! Sabi na kasi ni Ms ADB now na eh! Sige na Prez Noy Tsugiin mo nah! Now!
Reminder ha I’m not the topic here. It’s Romulo and the DFA.
From Benjamin Pedro in London:
Can you please advise as to who is the incoming Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James? It is common knowledge that Ambassador Lagdameo is a political appointee and NOT a career diplomat should have been recalled or should have resigned immediately after the recent change in government, along with all the other political appointees.
Why is Mr. Lagdameo still in London when he was given until September 2010 to wrap up his tour of duty?
Do you think it is right that the DFA is basically being used as a nursing home for sycophants and washed out politicians at the expense of more qualified and hard working career diplomats?
It only means that Lagdameo is super-lakas with Aquino. But under the law, he should be re-appointed by Aquino and go through the CA again. Without that, he has no personality in UK because he was appointed by Arroyo and Arroyo is no longer president.
But as I’ve said time and again, it’s a mess out there at the DFA.
may i know where amb ben tejano now? he is one of the political appointee of unana in new zealand?? is he one of those extended by berotng kupal too??nagtatanong lang po..!!
Aha! Nawawala, nagtatago ang mga undiplomats ng unana pero tuloy na ninanakaw ang pera natin para sweldo at perks wala namang personality na. Sino-sino kaya ang inaahas ng mga putragis para mare-appoint, baka si Noynoy mismo! Bag!!! 🙁
Sa April ba ang alis niya? I hope it is not an April Fools Day…joke..pero kung April 1 it will be the appropriate time to get rid of him..and what an April Fool’s Day gift to the nation..
Re #51 Marshall Louis M. Alferez, minister and Consul (Political)in the Philippine Embassy in, London answered Benjamin Pedro in an e-group which included me:
Dear Mr. Pedro,
Ambassador Lagdameo ended his tour of duty on 30 September 2010.
The Embassy has since been headed by Charge d’Affaires Reynaldo Catapang, a senior career diplomat.
In due course, President Benigno Aquino will appoint a new Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James.
Louis Alferez
I hope Romulo and the DFA should review and lift the employment ban of Filipino workers to Afghanistan. Every time I read or hear about Romulo and the DFA, the ban always comes to my mind.
I bleed for my countrymen whose employment are in jeopardy because of this ruling.
Really huh? And to think that one of his daughters loves attending high society events here in Manila. She is part of the alta sociedad of the Philippines. If the allegations that her father put his personal maid and driver as ghost employees for payroll of the government, they are so cheap kung ganun! Pa-party party pa at nasa mga social columns pa sa Philippine Star, ganun naman pala sila. Beef lang di pa makabili ng sarili nilang pera. Well if this is all true, yuck! Kung totoo man itong mga nakalathala dito, mag-isip sya. Para sya yung anak nung isang Intsik na developer na pa high society din at pinangalandakan pa ang Hermes bags nya, yun pala may kaso naman sa Pag-Ibig. Niloko yung mga bumili ng bahay sa mga development nila.