The resignation of Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, four months before the end of the Aquino administration, may yet pave the way for Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda to realize his dream of becoming foreign secretary.
Roxas, the envoy recalled, presented Lacierda to him: “Here’s your future boss.”
The envoy was taken aback, he replied, “I won’t be with the DFA anymore by that time.”
Funny. The envoy’s reply sounded like “I’m thankful I won’t be there when that disaster happens in the DFA.”
The envoy was thinking that it would happen after 2016 and assuming that Roxas would succeed Aquino.But that possibility doesn’t seem very likely because in the many surveys conducted of the presidential race for the May 2016 elections, Roxas has never topped one.
Although analysts say the 2016 presidential contest is a close fight. In the latest Pulse Asia survey, where Partido Galing at Puso presidential bet Grace Poe, retook the lead from United Nationalist Alliance’s Jejomar Binay, Roxas no longer trailed PDP-Laban’s Rodrigo Duterte. He tied with Duterte in third place. In the latest survey of pollster Junie Laylo conducted last week, where Poe again topped, Roxas already tied with Binay in second place.
But Lacierda need not anchor his dream on the doubtful victory of Roxas in the 2016 elections. He can lobby for the President to appoint him to be acting secretary and enjoy the perks of being the top diplomat in the last four months of the Aquino administration.
There are three undersecretaries who are still active career officers: Laura Q. del Rosario, undersecretary for International Economic Relations; Linglingay F. Lacanlale, undersecretary for administration; and Evan P. Garcia, undersecretary for policy.
It’s likely to be Lula del Rosario (no relation to the outgoing foreign secretary), who competently stirred the substantive part of the Philippine hosting of the 2015 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit last November.
Del Rosario’s resignation is effective March 7. He will still be accompanying President Aquino to the Special ASEAN-US summit in California on Feb. 15 to 16. He is also expected to say his farewell to his Asean counterparts during the regional group’s Foreign Minister’s Meeting Retreat in Vientiane, Laos on Feb. 27.
Dubbed by nationalists as “American Boy,” Del Rosario’s stint in the DFA will always be remembered as the lowest point of Philippine-China relations.
Na-shocked yung ambassador, disaster nga naman…hahahaha!
Abolish na lang ang DFA bago maging DFA Sec si Lacierda.
The more na hindi dapat manalo si Roxas.
dont blame albert del rosario for china. it doesnt matter who the foreign secretary is, china is gonna take what it wants.
John, you have your own opinion about China-Philippine relations based on what you know.
My statements/opinions are based on facts I have. I stand by what I said.
I respect your views even if I don’t agree with you.
Secretary Lacierda posted this reaction in Twitter. Here’s our exchange:
I would not count Roxas out of the running as yet..Presidential race is now won by Surveys.
Nobody is counting out anybody.
Only PCOS does.
The most relevant issue Edwin Lacierda must confront is the perception that he’s an unthoughtful featherweight.
Lacierda’s forte is that of creating fancy soundbites
and scoring cheap quick points, qualities respected, adored in gossipy halls of power, but shunned in an area that requires an adult in the room: international diplomacy.
If he succeeds in getting the plum post, bets will surely be placed that DFA will once again retains its unenviable image as the indecisive wimp.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Edwin Lacierda, the sound and bite are nakakasuka. 🙂
Lacierda will not get the position. I think Usec Laura Q. del Rosario will get it. She deserves it.
Fiction nga naman yang article mo, Ma’am Ellen. Wala kang corroboration. Pure fiction.
But what is the use of getting the position that is co-terminus with the President? Pack and unpack your bag in few months? Still I am not counting Lacierda out as in “he will not get the Position”.
What corroboration do I need when I talked to the person whom Mar Roxas and Lacierda talked with. Basahin mo nga ng maayos ang article.
Ang hirap namang pumasok.
Baka naman yung “Here’s your future boss.” means he will be the capo di tutti capi. Boss of all bosses – Executive Secretary.
Fiction daw. Kung ano ang gawa, siya ang hinala. Gaano karami na ba ang fiction about the Tuwid na Daan and its non-accomplishments?
Ma’am Ellen. Walang pagkakaiba ang sinulat mong yan sa sinusulat ng mga showbiz writers na blind items. Puwedeng gawa-gawa, puwede ring totoo. Walang pangalan ang source mo, anonymous. Wala bang betlog yan na tindigan ang totoo kung totoo nga?
At least si Lacierda, lumabas sa Twitter to deny your fiction. Yang source mo, nagtatago sa dilim. Kaya madilim din tingin ko sa story mo. ‘Cencia na ho, but that’s how I see your story.
Oo nga naman. Besides, what school of journalism teaches you that the story handed by a primary source makes corroboration/verification unnecessary? Porke primary source, totoo agad? Paano na kung nilulubid ka lang ng source mo?
My source is credible. Alam dapat ng journalist kung ang kausap niya ay credible o hindi.
Mukhang may pinakawala si presidential spokesman aspiring to be foreign secretary dito a.