NOY GOING GMA WAY—CAREER DIPLOMATS
Military envoys’ foreign postings scored
By Michaela P. del Callar 10/23/2010No change is forthcoming in the case of the new administration’s appointments of ambassadors plucked from the circle of retired military officers.
President Aquino’s appointment of retired military generals as ambassadors only continues a practice of his unpopular predecessor that was widely criticized by the political opposition then — now making up the new administration — disgruntled career diplomats of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
Aquino has appointed former Armed Forces Chief of Staff Nestor Ochoa as envoy to Brunei and re-appointed retired Gen. Noe Wong as ambassador to Cambodia.
Ochoa succeeded Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, who retired a year early on June 22, 2010 after then President-elect Aquino said he would replace Bangit.
Talk then was that Aquino had that early offered an ambassadorship to Ochoa to enable him to appoint his choice for AFP chief of staff.
This was also the practice of the former President, as she was known to offer ambassadorships to military generals in exchange for their early retirement to enable her to appoint other generals to generals who opt to retire early..... MORE
Source: The Daily Tribune
URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101023hed1.html
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