Yano kuwalipikado na maging embahador, ayon kay Cuenco

MANILA – Walang nakikitang masama ang pinuno ng House committee on foreign affairs sa gagawing pagtalaga kay outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Alexander Yano bilang embahador ng Pilipinas sa Brunei. Sa isang pahayag nitong Huwebes, sinabi ni Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco, tagapangulo ng komite, na malinis ang pagkatao ni Yano at naging mahusay na sundalo at opisyal ng AFP. “General Yano is an officer and a gentleman. Throughout the years, he has distinguished himself as a public servant who has shown high regard not only for the people and the country he was sworn to protect but most of all for God who has called him for this mission in the military," ayon kay Cuenco. Ngunit para kay Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, ginagamit lang ni Pangulong Gloria Arroyo ang kanyang posisyon upang gantimpalaan ang mga retiring military at police officers ng magagandang puwesto sa gobyerno kapalit ng proteksyon sa kanyang gobyerno. “It is a form of buying loyalty and we believe it should not be the way to appoint public officials in sensitive government posts," ayon kay Ocampo. Ipinaliwanag ni Cuenco na hindi naman si Yano ang unang nagretirong AFP chief of staff na itinalaga sa sibilyang posisyon kahit ng mga nagdaang administrasyon. Ilan umano sa mga dating AFP chief of staff na itinalaga sa mga sibilyang posisyon noong panahon ni dating pangulong Ferdinand Marcos ay sina (Ret) Gen. Manuel Yan at dating vice chief of staff Gen. Rafael Ileto. “It will be a pity if General Yano’s service to his country ends with his retirement as AFP chief of staff. A man of his caliber and integrity should continue his service to the public and his country," ayon kay Cuenco. Kahit tiwala sa kakayahan ni Yano na maging embahador, naniniwala umano si Cuenco na higit pa ring makapagsisilbi sa bayan ang opisyal kung mananatiling AFP chief of staff. “The host country would rather have a nationally known former AFP chief of staff who retains residual clout as our ambassador than a newbie who is just starting to work his way up the Foreign Service career ladder," ayon sa kongresista. Una rito, nagbanta ang ilang career officials sa Department of Foreign Affairs na haharangin sa Commission on Appointments ang pagtatalaga ni Arroyo kay Yano bilang embahador dahil sa paglabag sa “51-49 ration between career and presidential appointed envoys." “This is not meant to disrespect our career diplomats. We have highly qualified career diplomats but we should also consider the contributions our distinguished military generals have made and could still make to further enhance the country’s foreign relations," paniwala naman ni Cuenco. Bukod kay Yano, balak din umanong italaga ni Arroyo bilang embahador sa The Hague si AFP vice chief of staff Lt. Gen. Cardozo Luna. - GMANews.TV