‘Please let Romulo go’: foreign service corps urges

The victory of Liberal Party presidential candidate Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino gave the Foreign Service corps a sense of hope that the winds of change he promised during the campaign would revitalize the department that had degenerated under the watch of Gloria Arroyo’s lackey, Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo. But their hopes have been dashed when sources close to Aquino relayed the message that Romulo would be retained. It’s demoralization time again for the country’s global frontliners. It’s bad enough that Romulo is incompetent. What is worse is that he has been the face of the Arroyo government to the world throughout these years of corruption and human rights violations. He defended Arroyo in international fora amidst accusations of cheating in the 2004 election, extra-judicial killings, and massive corruption. If Aquino pushes through with plans to retain Romulo, the same face will represent his government to the world. Is this the change that Aquino promised? I don’t know how Romulo finally got the nod of Aquino. Last week, he confided to an undersecretary it was unlikely that he would be retained because there are many others who are being considered for the position. One of the names recommended and was reportedly turned down by Aquino was former Ambassador to the United States Albert del Rosario. In fact Romulo promised his favorite undersecretaries, Erlinda Basilio for policy and Esteban Conejos for migrant affairs, that he would work for their retention even if he didn’t make it. Romulo maybe incompetent in running the department of foreign affairs but he is a master of self-preservation and advancement. His “You have my vote” declaration when Aquino announced his presidential bid last September must have clinched the job for him in the new administration. But that declaration was an unprincipled stand and sheer opportunism because Romulo at the same time said, “I am standing by the President until the end of her term and beyond.” Yes, he continued defending to the world Gloria Arroyo, whom Aquino promised to investigate for the string of anomalous deals concluded by her government. He said democracy under Arroyo was “strong and vibrant.” He also said, “I am confident that in the end, our people will choose a leader who will build on the legacy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.” Romulo bucked calls for his resignation with “I will continue to discharge my duties with utmost integrity, professionalism and loyalty which have been the hallmark of my long years of public service.” Aquino should ask members of the Union of Foreign Service Officers or UNIFORS. In their statement of concern September last year over the relief of UNIFORS president Victoria Bataclan from her duties as Assistant Secretary for the Office of European Affairs because she opposed the illegal appointment of Conejos to a post in Geneva, the foreign service corps said, “ His (Romulo’s) grasp of foreign affairs leaves much to be desired and decisions on important foreign policy issues are, if not ambivalent, absent and many times have led to embarrassment. “He runs the DFA like his fiefdom, often deciding the fate of the officers and staff without the benefit of consultation. He uses the Department’s limited resources for unnecessary expenditures, most glaring of which are frequent foreign trips in the guise of promoting better relations but are actually jaunts,” they said. They further said, “ It is therefore not surprising that among the rank and file, there is widespread discontent and loss of confidence on his ability to lead the DFA, a fact that the Secretary probably does not realize because he is not in touch with them.” Told about Aquino’s plan to retain Romulo, DFA officers were very disappointed. “I thought Noynoy said he will only have the best and the brightest, let alone change. Is he aware of his (Romulo) performance? “ The officer said Aquino might have been swayed by columnists who sang praises to Romulo. “Please ask them what good work Romulo has done to the DFA?” A retired ambassador said, “If it happens, I grieve for the DFA and the Philippine foreign service and diplomacy.” He said Aquino should be well advised on the impact of his retaining Romulo. He can start by talking with officers of UNIFORS.