Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto del Rosario. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said that that the reports that its leader, Foreign Affairs Secretary Del Rosario, was thinking of resigning was not true and that the chief remained true to his commitment to serve the country.
When asked by reporters about Del Rosario’s reactions to the reports, DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez quoted the secretary as saying that “as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, I have sworn to faithfully serve the country, I remain true to my commitment.”
Earlier reports had it that Del Rosario was “demoralized” and was thinking of resigning after the recent incidents that involved the back-channeling efforts of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV with China over the Scarborough Shoal dispute.
“That report is not true. And in fact the secretary has not mentioned any plans of resigning…..He is focused on his mandate and he is faithful in promoting and protecting the foreign policy of President Benigno Aquino III,” Hernandez said.
Hernandez noted that Del Rosario was now in Washington and was preparing for his travel to New York where he would be attending the 67th United Nations General Assembly.
He said that the last time he saw Del Rosario, he was “smiling” and “upbeat.”
Hernandez refused to discuss what he described as the issues of back-channeling and other related issues, but that the DFA “is fully behind Secretary and we are guided by his leadership in promoting the national interest of the country.”
Meanwhile, a top Philippine envoy and several US-based Philippine groups have expressed their support for Del Rosario.
Last week, a word-war erupted between Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Trillanes which revealed the younger senator’s conduct of backdoor talks with Chinese officials in a reported bid to diffuse tension between the two countries at the height of the controversy over the Scarborough Shoal dispute. President Benigno Aquino III had earlier confirmed Trillanes’ role as backdoor negotiatior.
Enrile, for his part, read notes which he said was taken by former Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Sonia Brady that allegedly showed Trillanes “bad-mouthing” Del Rosario in front of Chinese officials.
PH Envoy, US-based Philippine groups express support for DFA chief
Meanwhile, a top Philippine envoy and several US-based Philippine groups have expressed their support for Del Rosario.
In a statement, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia said that he and the officers and personnel of the Philippine Embassy in Washington remained firm in their support to what he described as the “principled leadership” of Del Rosario.
“We at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. continue to be inspired by the Secretary’s courage, integrity and fortitude. We commit to rededicate our full efforts to support the Secretary, and continue to make our contribution to his efforts to protect and uphold our sovereignty, and ensure the safety and well-being of our people,” Cuisia said in the statement.
“In his dealings with various governments, Secretary del Rosario has demonstrated a single-minded determination to uphold the Philippine national interest at all costs. This includes taking great personal risk to go to the front lines in conflict areas abroad to lead our people to safety. He is a true patriot,” he added.
In a separate statement, Loida Lewis, Chairperson of the US Pinoys for Good Governance, urged President Aquino to express his “full support” and “unconditional confidence” in the DFA chief, saying that she was very alarmed that Del Rosario “would even think about quitting the DFA.”
“President Aquino would be ill-advised if he would allow this rumor to continue. It means China has won this battle over Scarborough Shoal!,” Lewis said in the statement.
“It would be a blow to President Aquino’s leadership because of the perception that he is backing the a neophyte Senator over the hardworking, experienced, versatile and well respected internationally Secretary del Rosario,” she added.
In a separate letter addressed to Aquino, Lewis and Rodel Panis, president of the US Pinoys for Good Governance, also deplored what they described as Trillanes’ attempts to “sully the sterling reputation” of the DFA chief, and Trillanes’ refusal to heed Aquino’s request to stop from commenting to the media and make pronouncements “which undermine the Philippine government’s position in dealing with China.
The group, in the statement, noted that they were alarmed with the disclosure that Trillanes was meeting with Chinese officials, and that he had been reportedly making statements like “Filipinos are not interested in Panatag Shoal,” and “Secretary Del Rosario is provoking China at the instigation of the United States” – which they said “parrot China’s position.”
“We believe that Sen. Trillanes is acting more and more as China’s back door channel to the Philippines,” the group said in the letter.
“We support your government’s efforts to distance itself from Sen. Trillanes and to defend the sovereignty of the Philippines,” it added.
The Philippine American Chamber of Commerce in New York also issued a separate statement expressing support for Del Rosario and describing him as the “epitome of a diplomat,” and a “defender of the interests of Aquino and the Filipino people.”
“He has not hesitated to travel to the war-torn areas of Libya and Syria or to the great halls of Beijing and paneled offices of New York and London to protect Filipino overseas workers and when necessary, to bring them safely home,” the group said in the statement.