Gloria names FVR special international envoy

President Arroyo appointed yesterday former President Fidel Ramos as her special international envoy, paying tribute to the man who was instrumental in her rise to power.

At a reception for the diplomatic corps on her third day in office, Mrs. Arroyo also named six other special ambassadors to key allies and trading partners.

They were former Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco (to Japan, China and Korea), former Trade and Industry Secretary Rizalino Navarro (Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand), Paul Dominguez (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia), former Ambassador and Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar Bautista (Europe), and former Ambassador Raul Rabe (the Americas and Organization of Islamic Conference).

Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto Romulo was named senior adviser, with Cabinet rank, on international competitiveness.

The President said Ramos will represent her in the upcoming World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland and other important international events.

She said Ramos, who was president from 1992 to 1998, would have the rank of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary.

In a speech at a vin d’ honneur at Malacañang outlining her foreign policy priorities, Mrs. Arroyo credited Ramos with boosting the country’s competitiveness in the international market during his watch.

Ramos, who was also a former defense secretary and Armed Forces chief, was believed to have played a key role in persuading the military hierarchy to withdraw its support from Estrada at the height of the EDSA uprising last week.

Ramos said he was happy with his mission to "give the message to the world" through the WEF, which gathers world political and business leaders.

He said he was certain the economy and the country’s international standing would rebound under Mrs. Arroyo, but warned that there was hard work ahead.

Ramos noted that the Philippines was at the tailend of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations following the scandal-plagued Estrada administration.

Romulo, who resigned as foreign affairs secretary during the Ramos administration at the height of the Flor Contemplacion controversy in 1994, said he is a "P1-a year" adviser of the President.

He is a younger brother of Ricardo Romulo, president of the Makati Business Club and chairman of the Equitable-PCI Bank who allowed the bank’s senior vice president Clarissa Ocampo to testify at the failed impeachment trial of Estrada on the "Jose Velarde" bank account.

The President said Romulo will assist Mrs. Arroyo in developing policies related to enhancing the Philippines’ ability to harness the full benefits of globalization.

Dominguez said he, too, is a P1 adviser of the President.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Arroyo assuaged career diplomats that she would not award ambassadorial posts as "political concessions" to people who helped catapult her to the presidency, adding that appointments would be made on the basis of competence alone.

In her remarks at the vin d’ honneur, the President said democracy and the market will be the "guiding principles" of her administration’s foreign and domestic policies.

"As in other matters of state, my administration will resist the temptation to take adventurist initiatives and directions for the sake of appearing to be innovative," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Ramos told The STAR he is leaving tonight for Davos, Switzerland in pursuit of his commitment to sell the Philippines abroad as an investment and tourist destination.

Acting Foreign Affairs Secretary Lauro Baja Jr. said Filipino diplomats were "gratified and inspired" by Mrs. Arroyo’s pronouncement that they have priority for ambassador posts.

Baja said there was nothing wrong with the designation of special envoys since these nominees have limited tenure, adding this would boost the morale within the department.

He noted that the President’s commitment to limit appointees to head of mission would eliminate discontent within the ranks triggered by the appointment of former movie actor Amado Cortez as Consul General to San Francisco.

Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Ernesto Maceda was reportedly replaced by Ambassador Ariel Abadilla as Manila’s representative at the inaugural of President George Bush.

Maceda was recalled to Manila earlier to act as Estrada’s spokesman and propagandist for the impeachment trial. — With reports from Aurea Calica