DFA: Envoy to China will remain in post until replacement arrives

Ambassador Willie Gaa will remain as envoy to China until replaced by ambassador-designate Sonia Brady, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced yesterday.

DFA spokesman Gilberto Asuque said they have no information that Gaa departed Beijing last Sunday for Washington where he will serve as deputy to Ambassador Albert del Rosario.

Asuque could not confirm whether or not Gaa was now in Washington serving as deputy ambassador.

But shortly after the interview, Asuque said the home office had called Gaa and confirmed he was still "physically" present in Beijing.

Asuque explained Gaa could not proceed to Washington since he has no proper appointment to act as deputy chief of mission in the US.

He also denied reports that Gaa was appointed to replace Consul General Mariano Paynor in Los Angeles whose tour of duty had ended.

Asuque said Gaa is expected to leave Beijing only if Brady formally assumes the post.

"Bakit mo tatanggapin deputy chief of mission, ikaw na nagiinsulto sa sarili mo (Why would you accept the post as deputy chief of mission which only means that you are insulting yourself)? Why go there as a deputy because you need an official order? It can’t happen that way," Asuque stressed.

He added Gaa could not leave the diplomatic mission in Beijing but he might be in Washington on vacation.

According to Asuque, there is a protocol requirement for deputy chiefs of mission and the US State Department should be informed prior to the assignment.

Diplomatic sources maintained Gaa left Beijing last Sunday after receiving instructions from Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo to proceed to Washington to act as deputy to Del Rosario for a short period of 10 days.

Sources said Gaa’s fate is hazy after he was pulled out of his post at the Philippine Embassy in Beijing and demoted to deputy chief of mission.

Sources claimed Gaa got a call from Romulo last Friday night and was ordered to pack his bags and proceed to Washington.

No official reason was given for the apparent demotion of Gaa and his sudden reassignment but according to some career officials, it was obviously due to Brady’s confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Romulo had failed to inform Gaa, former assistant secretary for Asia Pacific Affairs (ASPAC), of his reasons for the sudden transfer and whether he would return to head the diplomatic mission in Beijing.

Sources claimed Gaa became a victim of internal politics in the DFA. Gaa ended his tour of duty in Australia in January 2002. He headed the ASPAC division at the DFA before his posting to Beijing in November 2003.

Sources had disclosed Brady made plain her wishes to be appointed as ambassador to China before Christmas. Brady, acting DFA secretary and undersecretary for policy, is one of 11 new ambassadors confirmed by the CA last Wednesday.