President-elect Benigno Aquino III’s appointment of Human Rights Commissioner Leila de Lima as justice secretary is an inspired choice.
Foreign Service officers are hoping and praying that it would be the same case for the secretary of foreign affairs. Romulo has been a disaster as foreign secretary the past six years and it would be a tragedy to let him stay even for a day once Gloria Arroyo is out of Malacañang.
By the nature of their work, diplomats do not engage in protest actions. They are supposedly the epitome of tact, discretion and subtlety. But concerned about persistent talks that the incompetent foreign secretary, Alberto Romulo, would be retained, the Union of Foreign Service Officers headed by Vicky Bataclan yesterday came out with an open letter to the president-elect telling him of their sentiments about Romulo.