Almendras named DFA chief

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has appointed Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras as ad interim foreign affairs secretary, replacing Albert del Rosario, whose resignation took effect last Monday, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said yesterday.

Earlier yesterday, Almendras confirmed he was one of those being considered or interested in the position.

Sources said the President spoke with two retired ambassadors, who turned him down. One of them is reportedly sick, the sources said.

Since there are no more sessions for both houses of Congress, the Commission on Appointments will not have any hearing to confirm the new foreign affairs chief and thus the person will only hold the position for three months in an acting capacity, Aquino said during his visit to the United States last month.

The President said he would have to talk seriously to those he was considering because taking on the job would entail a lot of sacrifice.

Aquino thanked Del Rosario for serving the department despite his health concerns.

“I really have to say that he is also one of the blessings bestowed upon me. 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, tough shoes to fill,” the President said.

There had been talks within the Department of Foreign Affairs that Ochoa was not in favor of DFA Undersecretary Laura del Rosario to replace her boss, who nominated her to the position, but there were no reasons cited.

Undersecretary Del Rosario is a career official and is not related to the retired secretary.

Aside from Almendras, the name of presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda was also one of those supposedly being pushed to become head of the department.

Lacierda recently engaged journalist Ellen Tordesillas in a word war on social media for writing that he was interested in the position.

Lacierda said the story that the administration’s standard bearer, Manuel Roxas II introduced him to a Filipino ambassador as “your future boss” was fiction.

Tordesillas, however, stood by her story.

Last month, the President told reporters that Lacierda never mentioned that he would like to be DFA secretary and that he was considering four persons to take the place of Del Rosario.

Aquino said two of the four he was eyeing were in sensitive positions.