The President’s Men and Women: DFA chief ready to serve a little longer

MANILA, Philippines – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo is the only member of the Arroyo Cabinet who was retained by President Aquino.

This time around, he joins the President’s official family composed of former colleagues who are either members of the “Hyatt 10” – government officials who resigned from the Cabinet of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo – or who served under the administration of former President Corazon Aquino, mother of the incumbent Chief Executive.

Romulo, who was sworn in by Mr. Aquino at Malacañang last July 1, has been the foreign affairs secretary since 2004.

He was joined during his oath taking by his children Berna, Mons, Erwin and Guadalupe, and his wife Rosie Lovely Romulo.

Aquino reappointed Romulo despite calls from career diplomats for new leadership at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

There were reports that Romulo would remain in his post for one year before Mr. Aquino’s running-mate, Manuel Roxas II, is appointed to the DFA.

“He asked me to remain in the Cabinet. I am honored and I have accepted the offer. There is no period (for my term). You know, all of us serve at the pleasure of the President,” Romulo told reporters after he emerged from a meeting with Aquino in his Times Street residence.

The issue of the reappointment of Romulo to his current position divided the Foreign Service corps as one group reminded their colleagues that diplomats should be guided by the highest order of decency and propriety.

In an open letter to the President, the Union of Foreign Service Officers (UNIFORS) composed of career officers at the DFA, expressed their objection to the extension in office of Romulo.

The group urged Mr. Aquino to allow younger and more energetic officials, whether from the career foreign service or outside, to hold the reins of a premier institution of government.

On June 1, Romulo paid public and personal tribute to former President Arroyo for her “outstanding performance as Chief Diplomat responsible for the Philippines’ standing in the world community” at the last of eight inaugurations of the Office of Consular Affairs.

At age 77, UNIFORS said Romulo is 12 years older than the age (65) career diplomats are required to retire from the DFA.

But Romulo has shrugged off the criticisms hurled against him by UNIFORS.

In another letter to the President, some of the career officers and personnel associations at the DFA defended Romulo, saying several among their ranks were already bent on undermining Mr. Aquino’s appointing authority and discrediting the integrity of the DFA as an institution.

The contents of UNIFORS’ open letter to Aquino were also opposed by Romulo’s sympathizers, claiming it was not the true sentiment of the entire Foreign Service corps, but a mere emotional outburst of a disgruntled few.

They also cited Romulo’s significant accomplishments in foreign affairs and expressed their gratitude for his efforts towards the further improvement of the Philippine foreign service.

Willing to help

In an interview at the 112th DFA Foundation Day recently, Romulo said he was ready to serve even as clerk in the administration of President Aquino.

“I can serve even as a clerk. The thing is to help. President Noynoy will be a good president because he has the moral ascendancy to govern. After Tita Cory, he will follow the policies of good governance and he has integrity,” Romulo said.

Romulo said the DFA pursued very well the protection of Filipinos abroad, national security diplomacy and also economic diplomacy.

“Underpinning that are eight realities of our foreign policy, which is our relation not only with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), with our neighbors but with our partners. We have no enemies so I think we have done very well and so we hope this foreign policy will continue to be pursued,” he added.

Born in Camiling, Tarlac, Romulo first joined government as a member of former President Corazon Aquino’s economic team – as Secretary of Budget and Management, and chairman of the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC).

He also became a member of the Monetary Board then served as Finance secretary under the Arroyo administration in 2001. He was subsequently appointed executive secretary and on Aug. 18, 2004, he was appointed foreign affairs secretary.

He was a senator from 1987 to 2004. He served as Senate majority leader for five years and chairman of the committee on banks, currencies and financial institutions.

During his term, he authored and sponsored major legislation such as the New Central Bank Law and Salary Standardization Law, Tax Exemption on Christmas Bonus and the Early Retirement  Act. –Pia Lee-Brago (The Philippine Star)