Names to replace envoy Brady in China already with PNoy 

Philippine Ambassador to China and career diplomat Sonia Brady was assigned this year to help heal ailing relations with the Asian superpower. But she herself fell ill, and President Aquino finds himself screening nominees for the position anew. A shortlist has been submitted to Malacañang by Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, who has expressed hope that another career diplomat be chosen for the sensitive post.  “At least it has been confirmed that a shortlist has already been presented to the President by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Albert del Rosario),” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing.

 

But since Del Rosario is out of the country, Lacierda said the former has yet to discuss the matter with the President. Lacierda could not comment if Brady’s replacement will be from within the career service or will be an outsider. He did note that Brady was a career foreign service officer. “That’s really up to the President, but if you will ask me, we do have very good career officers that should be considered,” Del Rosario told reporters during a diplomatic reception hosted by the Embassy of Vietnam last Aug. 28. Brady, 71, suffered a stroke in her Beijing home in late August. Efficient

 

At the same time, Lacierda said Brady’s deputy, Alex Chua, has been efficient in his duties as chargé d'affaires in the absence of a permanent replacement.

 

“We want to make sure that we have a good replacement for Ambassador Sonia Brady. But in the meantime, while we are looking for a replacement, the chargé d'affaires is very capable of handling the day-to-day concerns of the Philippine Embassy in China,” Lacierda said.

 

“He’s been there for sometime so he’s fully aware of the concerns and the problems and issues governing our Filipino compatriots in China. So it’s being worked out,” he continued. 

 

Brady was appointed ambassador to China in May to help sort out diplomatic issues with Beijing, which has been locked in increasingly tense territorial disputes with the Philippines since April.

 

Brady’s appointment as Ambassador to China was her second. She served as top envoy to Beijing from 2006 to 2010 under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. She just recovered from a mild stroke before she was asked to take over the post that was left vacant after a nominee, businessman Domingo Lee, failed to get the approval of the bicameral Commission on Appointments. — RSJ/HS, GMA News