Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes told reporters last week that he will ask President Aquino to name him ambassador to a country in Eastern Europe once he leaves the election body.
“I will wait to see the President so that I can ask him … My plan was to ask him, ‘Could you give me an ambassadorship instead so that I can rest. It’s so tiring in the Comelec,’” he was quoted by media to have said.
Brillantes named countries that he was eyeing: “Romania, Slovakia, or Hungary … where no Filipinos go.”
Two things are very wrong with what Brillantes wants:
One, the Commission on Election is a constitutional body which the Charter specified “shall be independent.”
How can a chairman be independent if he is asking a favor from the head of the executive department? It’s downright unethical.
Two, it’s an insult to foreign service.
Brillantes, whose brother, Jose, foreign affairs undersecretary for special concerns, was formerly ambassador to Malaysia, wants to make a foreign diplomatic assignment a retirement haven.
What kind of thinking is that?
Mr. Chairman, if you want to retire, go ahead. But please don’t make taxpayers subsidize your retirement pleasures.
When you are sent to a foreign assignment, you are supposed to work.Imagine the demoralizing effect of that statement to foreign service officers. Foreign service is not a retirement home as Brillantes and many others think.
Sure, there are posts that are more challenging than others. Hongkong, Southeast Asian and Middle East embassies and consulates are always kept busy by OFWs compared to countries that Brillantes mentioned. But that’s the challenge of a diplomatic post. As ambassador you are there to find ways to – economic, political and cultural and political- that the country and the Filipino people can benefit from the relationship. You are not there to relax.
If you want to relax,buy a beachfront house. Watch the sunset. Play with your grandchildren.But please spend your own money, not ours.
Brillantes, who was the President’s lawyer in the 2010 elections (he was also the lawyer of Andal Ampatuan Sr., alleged mastermind of the 2009 Maguindanao massacre) threatened to resign last week of Maguindanao in past elections) after the Supreme Court On issued a temporary restraining order against the Comelec rule limiting airtime of political advertisements.
There were other issues where the High Court slammed the poll body including the disqualification of a number of party list groups.
The President asked Brillantes to stay on at least until after the May 13 elections.
Twisted mind si Brilliantes. Makakabuti sa gobyerno na sipain na sya kahit may election pa. Very presumptuous ang matanda, he thought the president would just give him a pleasurable appointment after serving the election body. Well, unless maging 12-0 in favor of Team Pinoy ang resulta ng election, pwede nga syang mangarap. 🙂
“Brillantes named countries that he was eyeing: “Romania, Slovakia, or Hungary … where no Filipinos go.” ”
Kung mamatay pa sya dun sa pakuyakuyakoy lang, pera pa rin natin ang gagastos sa lahat ng abala at gamit. Langyang oldie ito a!
22 April 2012
E,kung i-appoint nga ni abnoy yan, e di 2 na silang magkapatid sa DFA at tipong matataas pa ang pwesto nila. Huwag naman nilang sirain sana ang foreign service. Hindi naman haven for the oldies and senile people ang DFA, may mga buhay din naman na sinasalba ang mga taga embassy.
Kapag pinag bigyan ni abNOY yan e di hindi malayong wala talagang mararating ang foreign service ng Pinas.
Kung pwede lang naman sana tantanan naman nila ang foreign service.
mg buset!!!
prans
There is a looming threat of a failure of elections. He wants to escape responsibility.
Brillantes has absolutely no administrative skills. He’s also a tech illiterate.
Nakakalungkot man pero SINECURE talaga ang habol ng mga nagpapa-appoint bilang ambassador–pambayad-utang sa kanilang pagsuporta sa nakaluklok sa Malacañang.
si brillantes ay pinagpala talaga.
LCsiao,that’s the word:
sinecure – A position or office that requires little or no work but provides a salary.
Thanks.
Bilib ako sa nais niya.