Panicky Lopez volunteers embassy staff repatriation By Michaela P. del Callar 03/16/2011

Panicky Lopez volunteers embassy staff repatriation

By Michaela P. del Callar 03/16/2011

Panic has struck most of Japan as explosions and a fire at Japan’s quake-hit nuclear plant unleashed dangerous radiation, prompting recently installed Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez to make a unilateral decision yesterday to repatriate the chancery’s non-essential staff and their dependents in Tokyo.

The decision was apparently his own without obtaining clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said the DFA received Lopez’s recommendation to move out some staff and the families of embassy personnel but that it did not have permission from Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, who is in India attending a ministerial meeting.

“We have not decided yet on whether we will allow our employees to come home. We are still in consultation. There was a recommendation from Ambassador Lopez but I consulted Secretary Del Rosario and his instruction was that let’s have more information on this,” Seguis told a press conference..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110316hed2.html