CA defers confirmation of PHL permanent rep to the UN

The Commission on Appointments deferred Wednesday the nomination of Rodolfo Dia Robles as the Philippine permanent representative to the United Nations.

Robles was not among the nominees who faced the CA plenary for the confirmation.

Earlier in the day, the CA foreign affairs committee chaired by Senator Panfilo Lacson held a caucus to decide on the fate of Robles.

The senators and congressmen found his answers to their questions during the panel hearing wanting.

Senator Francis Pangilinan asked Robles about the national policy toward China noting that over 90% of Filipinos want the Philippines to regain control of the West Philippine Sea.

“With China’s incursion in our exclusive economic zone or our territorial sovereign waters, our people would like to know, what are we going to do with these challenges that we face?” Pangilinan said.

Rodolfo Robles, the Philippine permanent representative to the UN, is grilled by members of the Commission on Appointments at the Senate on Wednesday, September 25, 2019. Benjie Castro

Robles replied: “I think what the government is doing, is doing it within its proper resources. We are actually trying to strengthen our military capability… But at the moment, we are actually not able to do anything except (raise) protests one after other saying this is an illegal act of China. But at the same time, I'm not aware of what we really can do effectively to stop China from doing these.”

The senator also asked about the issue of the suspension of negotiations with countries that signed the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution to probe the Philippine government’s war on drugs.

“Are you hoping [for] extensions to the policy or [its] suspension? Are you willing to bring this matter up to the President and say perhaps there could be a better approach to do this on a case-to-case basis?” Pangilinan asked.

Robles said the suspension of negotiations to loan and grants will not affect the country’s relationship with security partners such as Australia.

He also said he is willing to take a second look at the matter and raise it to the President if need be.

Lacson, on the other hand, asked Robles about the specific issues he will prioritize.

Robles said he will concentrate on the present problems that plague the country now and then go into various agencies. He said he will prioritize more popular issues such as the West Philippine Sea and human rights.

Lacson asked if President Rodrigo Duterte did not give him any marching order as the migration of Filipinos and the issue of drugs and narcotics should also be prioritized.

“As a matter of tradition meron tayong nakalistang priorities. Marami tayong OFWs, migration should be one. Protection and safety of migrants then drugs and narcotics. Drugs are listed as one of the top two advocacies of the President. And UN development goals. We’ve been very active complying with MDG program of the UN. 'Yan ang traditional. Did you not read about that? Google ko lang ngayon,” he said.

Meanwhile, the CA confirmed the ad interim appointments of 53 foreign affairs officials and 29  senior military officers. —KG, GMA News