Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario. AP FILE PHOTO
Two US-based Filipino groups threw their support behind Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, hailing him as a “passionate advocate of the Philippines and a defender of the interests of President Aquino and the Filipino people.”
Rene “Butch” Meily, president of Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of New York, said “Secretary Del Rosario has been a dedicated, hardworking and unselfish servant of the people. As foreign secretary, he has been a passionate advocate of the Philippines and a defender of the interests of President 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.”
At the same time, Loida Lewis, chair of the US Pinoys for Good Governance, in a letter to President Aquino, expressed alarm that Del Rosario would even think of quitting the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“President Aquino would be ill-advised if he would allow this rumor to continue. It means China has won this battle over Scarborough Shoal,” she added.
Lewis said “Del Rosario has stood up to defend Philippine national interests against the enormous pressure being brought to bear against the Philippines by China with vast superiority of military and economic resources. We believe the Philippines is most fortunate to have him as our foreign affairs secretary at this critical time in our history. We cannot afford to lose someone with his integrity, intelligence and connections with the US government and with the governments in the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean).”
Meily said “Del Rosario has always acted as a statesman and a gentleman. He is the epitome of a diplomat and has represented the country with honor.” The Philippine-American Chamber of Commerce of New York was established in 1920 and counts among its members a number of American and Philippine companies.
Lewis said it would be a blow to President Aquino’s leadership because of the perception that he is backing a neophyte senator over the hardworking, experienced, versatile and well respected internationally Secretary Del Rosario. She was referring to Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, who was tapped by President Aquino to conduct back-channel negotiations with unnamed Chinese officials at the height of the tension over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.