Abella named DFA undersecretary

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has appointed his former spokesman Ernesto Abella as foreign affairs undersecretary.

Abella was given his new assignment last Oct. 27, his appointment paper showed.

The appointment paper did not specify Abella’s portfolio. A source previously told reporters that the former presidential spokesman would handle the foreign affairs department’s strategic communications.

Duterte designated Abella as his spokesman days before he assumed the presidency.

Abella witnessed Duterte’s leadership firsthand in 1996, when he was kidnapped by rebels in Davao City. He was freed because of the intervention of Duterte, who was then mayor of the southern city.

Earlier this month, Duterte replaced Abella as presidential spokesman but was tight-lipped on his reasons for doing so.  There have been rumors that Duterte was not happy with the way Abella handled reports about his lower survey numbers and his criticisms against the European Union.

Human rights lawyer and former lawmaker Harry Roque succeeded Abella as presidential spokesman.

Duterte has also appointed Roque as presidential adviser on human rights. Roque will hold the post in concurrent capacity.

“Being appointed recently as presidential adviser on human rights concurrent with my being the presidential spokesperson, I will take steps to ensure that the Philippines discharges its obligations in protecting and promoting human rights, especially the right to life,” Roque said in a statement issued last Wednesday.

Roque has drawn flak for agreeing to become the spokesman of Duterte, who was accused of tolerating extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses.

Opposition Sen. Leila de Lima, who is detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame on drug trafficking charges, has called Roque a “political manipulator” and a “propaganda artist” of Duterte.

Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Roberto Cadiz has also described Roque as “a big disappointment to the human rights community.”

Roque has shrugged off the criticisms against him and has vowed to continue advocating human rights as presidential spokesman.