President Aquino confirmed the appointment of Foreign Undersecretary for Policy, Erlinda Basilio as ambassador to China.
Following the is the transcript of the “ambush” interview”:
President Aquino Q: Sir, how soon will we name our next ambassador to China? Usec. (Erlinda) Basilio has been floated as a replacement.
PRESIDENT AQUINO: Well, as soon as we will submit her name to the Commission on Appointments. Once they confirm (her), therefore, we can seek the—the French term was ‘agrément’—parang the agreement for the designation of Usec. Basilio as our new ambassador to China.
Calm demeanor masks toughnessPresident Benigno S. Aquino III is expected to name Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda Basilio as ambassador to China, reliable sources at the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
Malacanang said last Friday the President would announce Monday the new ambassador to China who will replace Sonia Brady,71, who suffered a stroke in Beijing last August.
Malacanang, however, made no such announcement, preoccupied it was with monitoring typhoon “Pablo.”
DFA sources said Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario submitted to the President three names, all career officers, for the post that is considered the most challenging in Philippine foreign affairs today.
Basilio has always been in the list of candidates for ambassador to China after Aquino family friend Domingo Lee withdrew from the position he was nominated for (he was never confirmed by the Commission on Appointments) in the wake of the standoff at the Panatag shoal, also known as Scarborough shoal, 123 nautical miles off Zambales in Central Luzon. But she has made herself valuable as undersecretary for policy in the home office.
There are two positive things that resulted in the ongoing standoff in the Scarborough Shoal.
One is the decision of President Aquino recall the appointment of family friend Domingo Lee as ambassador to China and two, the raising of the conflicting territorial claims to the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea has been accelerated.
With the withdrawal of Lee’s appointment, the next question is, who will Aquino send to fill the long-vacant post in Beijing?
Three names have been mentioned.
BasilioThe first one is recently-retired Erlinda Basilio. A career foreign service officer, Basilio’s last position was foreign affairs undersecretary for policy under the Aquino administration, a position that she also held under the Arroyo administration. Briefly, while waiting for now Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario to assume the position, she served as acting foreign secretary.
Basilio’s calm demeanor masks a certain toughness that is needed in dealing with a bully like China. Basilio is a veteran in diplomatic pressures. She is not easily intimidated.
CruzAnother name mentioned is Luis T. Cruz, who is now our ambassador to South Korea.
Also a career officer,Cruz served as consul general in the Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou, which he opened in 1997.
Cruz has the gift of “speaking his truth quietly and clearly” which is important in dealing with a pugnacious adversary.
Another name being floated is Chito Sta. Romana, former American Broadcasting Company news bureau in Beijing. He has retired from ABC and is now based in the Philippines.
