'No change in practice of naming political ambassadors'

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MANILA, Philippines – The Aquino administration’s first ambassadorial appointment of a retired general to an Asian country only showed that it is the “same ballgame” of naming political ambassadors, career diplomats at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

The career diplomats, who asked not to be named, told The STAR that they saw no change in the practice of naming political ambassadors instead of sending career diplomats after President Aquino announced on Wednesday in his press conference that he would give Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa, a graduate of PMA Class ’77, an ambassadorial post in an Asian country after his retirement.

Ochoa, who was acting Armed Forces chief of staff after Gen. Delfin Bangit retired early from the military service, was replaced by Lt. Gen. Ricardo David Jr. He has filed for optional retirement.

Sources said Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin is behind the appointment of Ochoa, who was not named AFP chief of staff but only served in an acting capacity, and he is likely to get the Cambodia posting.

“It’s the same ballgame all over again, to begin with its first appointment of a military officer as an ambassador to an Asian country,” the diplomat said.

President Aquino promised to reduce the number of political ambassadors and the career diplomats said the appointment of career ambassadors would be welcomed.

“There’s no change. If the President emphasized change during his campaign, then we don’t see it. There’s no change,” another diplomat said.

The 21 political ambassadors personally handpicked by former President Arroyo to represent her throughout the world will now also represent Aquino for the next three months after he approved the recommendation of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to extend their tours of duty because they would need additional time to complete protocol and administrative arrangements before leaving their host countries.

The political ambassadors’ request for extension was approved despite the fact that Ambassadors Generoso Senga (Iran), Alejandro del Rosario (Warsaw), Acmad Omar (Muscat) and Alexander Yano (Brunei) were able to wind up their affairs and come home to Manila by June 30, 2010.

The career diplomats lauded Senga, del Rosario, Omar, and Yano for their sense of delicadeza.