Ailing PH ambassador to China, Brady, flown home

Ambassador Sonia Brady. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Ailing Philippine Ambassador to China Sonia Brady has returned home, a month after suffering a stroke in Beijing, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday.

Brady, 71, was flown home on Friday night. DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez had little to say about her return to Manila.

“Ambassador Sonia Brady arrived in Manila from Beijing last night. She needs privacy and a lot of rest. Let’s pray for her speedy and full recovery,” Hernandez said in an announcement posted on Twitter.

Brady arrived on Philippine Airlines flight PR 359 at 5:40 p.m., according to an airport source.

She was fetched by an ambulance from St. Luke’s Medical Center at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2’s arrival ramp.

Brady, appointed to a second term in Beijing amid increasing tension between the Philippines and China over Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, suffered a stroke and was rushed to a hospital in Beijing on Aug. 22.

She was stricken days after joining a meeting between Chinese officials and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, President Aquino’s backroom negotiator, for a discussion of a solution to a standoff between Philippine and Chinese vessels at Panatag Shoal.

Brady came home amid a controversy caused by Trillanes, who disclosed his back-channel role in the talks with China in a quarrel with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile over a bill that would divide Camarines Sur into two provinces.

In a heated exchange with Trillanes in the Senate on Wednesday, Enrile disclosed notes that he said came from Brady’s record of the meeting in Beijing, outlining Trillanes’ controversial statements to the Chinese.

As quoted by Enrile, Brady took note of Trillanes’ statement that “no one cares about the Panatag Shoal” in the Philippines.

Trillanes also called Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario a “traitor” for involving the United States in the issue.

Notes unconfirmed

The DFA has not confirmed contents of the supposed notes from Brady.

Malacañang earlier ordered Brady’s replacement to give her time to fully recover.

President Aquino, however, has yet to select a new ambassador to China, but Del Rosario has said he nominated career diplomats with extensive experience in Philippine-China relations.

Deputy Chief of Mission Alex Chua is currently overseeing affairs in the Philippine Embassy in Beijing pending the arrival of a new ambassador.