Aquino looking at 4 candidates for DFA chief

MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III is looking at 4 candidates to replace Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, who is due to resign on March 7.

Aquino said in an interview with Philippine media in Los Angeles on Tuesday, February 16 (Wednesday, February 17, Manila time), that he has yet to talk to any of the candidates, two of whom are holding “very sensitive positions” – an indication that they are in government, though he did not say it.

“I am thinking of 4 people and I have yet to talk to the 4. Now, the problem is two of the 4 are in very sensitive positions right now…and you cannot strengthen one area without weakening the other area. I’d rather not weaken the areas that are very critical,” he said, but did not elaborate.

Aquino added that the next foreign secretary will take over the job in an acting capacity, since Congress is not in session.

“The person I will be asking to take over in an acting capacity…will only hold it for two or 3 months, will produce enemies in those two or 3 months, who will probably be not confirmed by the person who really likes me a lot. So there’s a lot of sacrifice. So before I ask that person to sacrifice, we must have a serious discussion so that person knows what [he or she] is getting into,” Aquino said.

He dismissed rumors that Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda is among the candidates.

Del Rosario ‘a blessing”

Before he responded to questions on who would replace Del Rosario, Aquino first thanked the outgoing Cabinet official, whom he called a “blessing” to his administration.

“Even his disposition to fulfill all of his responsibilities, he will work until March just to finish everything that is already in the pipeline. So I really have to say that he is also one of the blessings bestowed upon me,” he said of the 76-year-old Del Rosario.

“In an area where I don’t really have that much expertise, he took in quite a lot of the burden and really performed his role as adviser. So,[he is leaving] tough shoes to fill,” Aquino added.

To illustrate the dedication of Del Rosario, Aquino said that weeks after his appointment in 2011, the then 71-year-old Cabinet official got on a plane to strife-torn Libya to personally appeal to Filipinos to be repatriated.

Aquino said Del Rosario worked hard even if he has “severe health issues…[that] have been going on for quite some time.” 

“The treatment that was expected to resolve it, especially the issue with his back, did not produce the anticipated result….His issue with the back makes it difficult for him to sit a long time, to stand up a long time, and even to sleep. Any movement causes a lot of pain,” the President said.

A well-known businessman before becoming the Philippines’ top diplomat, Del Rosario has served as DFA chief since February 24, 2011.

Under Del Rosario, the Philippines filed a historic case against China to settle a decades-long dispute between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). – Rappler.com