Palace mum on Serge call to withdraw Lee nomination

MANILA, Philippines—Malacañang is mum for now on the call of Senator Serge Osmeña III for President Benigno Aquino to withdraw his nomination of Domingo Lee as ambassador to China after the latter’s poor performance before the Commission on Appointments Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda initially said that he will leave it up to the Department of Foreign Affairs to comment on the matter.

But Lacierda eventually said he will ask the President about it, when asked at a press briefing whether the Chief Executive will review his appointment of Lee following the latter’s failure to answer questions raised by Osmeña during the CA hearing in the Senate the other day.

“Let me discuss with the President first on that point,” he told reporters.

Osmeña, who grilled Lee during the CA’s confirmation hearing, grew exasperated over the latter’s performance, especially after Lee failed to enumerate the three “pillars” of Philippine diplomacy.