Appointment of special envoys must be used sparingly, foreign policy expert says

The appointment of special envoys by the President is an “accepted diplomatic practice,” but must be used “sparingly” so as not to undermine the role of an ambassador, a foreign policy expert said Monday.

"Appointments of special envoys is an accepted diplomatic practice. They are used sparingly, however, as they may detract from the mandate of the ambassador accredited to the country,” former deputy Foreign Affairs Secretary Lauro Baja, who also served as Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations, told GMA News Online.

Baja made the statement amid the designation of two Philippine special envoys to the United States.

In late October, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay announced the appointment of columnist Babe Romualdez as special envoy to the US. Several days later, Yasay said Century Properties Group Chairman and CEO Jose Antonio was also named special envoy to the US for trade, investment and economic affairs.

Under the law, the President can call for the appointment or designation of persons "with expertise and experience to undertake special tasks or address certain issues, notably in international economic affairs," to ensure the conduct of effective foreign policy.

Baja explained that special envoys are appointed for a specific assignment and ends upon the completion of the mission.

However, he said, the Philippines does not follow this practice.

"Thus, we still have special envoys to China who call themselves ambassador," he said.

Former President Benigno Aquino III, in an executive order signed in Aug. 25, 2010, barred special envoys from using the title "Ambassador."

Section 2 of EO No. 594 states that: "An appointment/designated Special Envoy shall not use the title ‘Ambassador’ pursuant to Republic Act 7157, otherwise known as the Philippine Foreign Service Act of 1991, which states that only Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary may carry this title."

Former President Fidel Ramos was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as Philippine special envoy to China.

Ramos, who helped ease strained ties between Manila and Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, quit his post after Duterte's state visit to China — a trip the former President described as "successful." —KBK, GMA News