Palace sees Brady hurdling Commission on Appointments

MANILA, Philippines - Compared to President Aquino’s family friend Domingo Lee, the Philippines’ new ambassador to China Sonia Brady is better equipped and can probably breeze through the Commission on Appointments (CA), a Palace official hinted yesterday.

“With her extensive experience in foreign affairs and in foreign relations, we hope that, and we are confident that she can ably answer the questions of the members of the CA,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.

In an interview over state-run radio dzRB, Valte said Brady best fits the job description of ambassador to China, especially now that diplomatic ties between the two countries are being tested by the Panatag Shoal standoff. 

“I think she started in the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) in the ’70s. I think she has a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Southern California. So she is, again, an old hand at foreign affairs,” Valte said.

According to her, Brady represented what the President described as someone “who could hit the ground running, someone who is already familiar with the culture of the host country, its politics and the ways essentially of the host country.”

“If you look at the background of Ambassador Brady, she was formerly our ambassador to China, from 2006 to 2010. Prior to that, I think her very first posting outside the country was to Beijing. So she is someone that fulfills the requirements for the post.”

“That is precisely what the President meant when he said that he was looking for somebody who could hit the ground running given that we have a multi-faceted relationship with China,” she added.  

Aquino had decided not to reappoint businessman Lee, who withdrew his nomination to the post after Congress refused to approve his appointment.

Valte said Brady would have concurrent jurisdiction over North Korea and Mongolia.

Brady, 70, is known at the DFA as a very “circumspect” diplomat – especially when she was undersecretary for policy – and experienced in Asian affairs.

She was also ambassador to Thailand from 2002 to 2003; Myanmar from 1995 to 1999; deputy chief of mission to Indonesia from 1994 to 1995; deputy chief of mission to Thailand from 1992 to 1994; third secretary and vice consul and then second secretary and consul at the Philippine embassy in Beijing from 1976 to 1978.

She served as DFA undersecretary for policy from July 2003 to 2006; special assistant, then assistant secretary to the Office of the Secretary for Policy and Coordination from 1999 to 2002; director for Office of Asia and the Pacific from 1988 to 1992; and assistant, then principal assistant to the Office of Political Affairs from 1968 to 1976.

Valte said Brady was one of those who prepared for the state visit of Aquino to China last year and was also part of the delegation.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario recommended Brady to the President.

Brady was named to her old post amid a growing clamor for a skilled diplomat to handle frayed ties caused by a territorial dispute.