Female ambassador to replace Cambodian envoy–DFA

Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto del Rosario. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario on Wednesday confirmed that a female ambassador of a high rank in the Cambodian foreign ministry is set to replace former Cambodian Ambassador to Manila Hos Sereythonh.

“She’s a lady who is quite high up in the ministry. I think that she holds an assistant Secretary Rank now; that’s the information I have,” Del Rosario said in an interview with reporters.

Cambodia recalled Hos following his remarks accusing the Philippines and Vietnam of “dirty politics” in pushing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations members for a common stand on the West Philippine Sea dispute.

In a strongly worded letter published in a national daily, Hos accused the Philippines and Vietnam of stalling last month’s talks among Asean foreign ministers in Phnom Penh by pushing an “inflexible and non-negotiable” position on territorial disputes with China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

The letter was in response to an article written by Foreign Undersecretary  for Policy Erlinda Basilio—“What happened in Phnom Penh”— which sought to shed light on Asean’s failure to issue a joint communiqué on the Spratlys debate after last month’s Asean ministerial meeting in Phnom Penh. The absence of a joint communiqué was unprecedented in Asean’s 45-year history.

The DFA had consistently summoned Hos to explain his remarks but Hos never heeded the call, saying he was sick.

In an interview, Del Rosario said that Hos was scheduled to leave on August 17.

Raul Hernandez, in a separate statement last Friday, said that Cambodia had requested the facilitation of Manila’s acceptance of a new envoy. Both Hernandez and Del Rosario said that the recall did not affect bilateral relations between the two countries.

“The Philippines and Cambodia have maintained bilateral relations for the past 55 years. Initiatives for joint cooperation and partnership are progressing steadily. The appointment of a new ambassador as well as the request for facilitation of the agreement attests to the continued commitment to strengthen relations,” Hernandez said in the statement.