Yasay’s CA rejection 'embarrassing' for Philippines, says ex-US envoy

MANILA, Philippines — A former ambassador to the United States has labeled a congressional commission's rejection of Perfecto Yasay as Foreign Affairs secretary as “embarrassing.”

Despite this rejection, Yasay has expressed openness to serve in the government again in another capacity.

In an interview on ANC, Jose Cuisia Jr, the Philippine ambassador to the US during the Aquino administration, said that although it was understandable for the Commission on Appointments to reject Yasay’s appointment as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, his rejection was still humiliating for the country since the Philippines is the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year.

Yasay, as Foreign Affairs secretary, had been meeting his counterparts in the region.

“I understand why the Commission on Appointments rejected emphatically the application or nomination of Secretary Perfecto Yasay but it is of course embarrassing for the Philippines especially because the Philippines is currently the chairman of ASEAN and he has been meeting his counterparts from ASEAN countries,” Cuisia said.

Members of the CA rejected President Rodrigo Duterte’s choice for secretary of Foreign Affairs after Yasay was found to have lied about details of his citizenship.

Yasay, the first Cabinet member of Duterte to have been rejected, denied lying under oath but admitted to failing to fully disclose details about his citizenship.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Senate committee on foreign affairs, explained in dumping Yasay: “After careful deliberations of the foregoing circumstances and upon a unanimous vote of 15 of its members present in a caucus held this morning, this representation as chairman of the [CA] committee on foreign affairs hereby moves to reject the ad interim appointment of Atty. Perfecto Rivas Yasay Jr. as secretary of Foreign Affairs.”

Duterte early on Thursday appointed Foreign Affairs undersecretary for policy Enrique Manalo as acting secretary of the DFA.

Manalo will serve as the country’s top diplomat while the chief executive still looking for Yasay’s appointment.

“Undersecretary Manalo is an excellent transition man, and has been on top of many crucial issues together with Atty. Perfecto Yasay,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement announcing Manalo’s appointment.

Cuisia however said that Yasay’s appointment could be an opportunity for Duterte to choose a better candidate.

 “It will give the president an opportunity to appoint a more qualified secretary of foreign affairs. I think there are quite a number of capable candidates within the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Cuisia said.

Cuisia said that since the president had already expressed his preference to have Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as his Foreign Affairs secretary, it would be best if Duterte appoints someone in an acting capacity.

“There are qualified undersecretaries who could be named acting secretaries of foreign affairs,” he said.

Yasay ready to be appointed to a new post

Yasay said that despite his rejection by the CA, he is open to serving in the government again.

“When duty calls for you to serve the country, I think you cannot refuse. For me personally I think one should not refuse that unless there are compelling reasons for refusing it such as health considerations and such other things,” he said.

He said that serving one’s country was his civic duty as mandated in the constitution.

“We are what we are today because of our country. We are what we are today because we are Filipinos,” said Yasay.