Arroyo promotes spy chief, generals; names new envoys

MANILA, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 16, 2009) President Gloria Arroyo has promoted 19 senior military generals and named three new ambassadors to Poland, Ireland and Bahrain.

The Commission on Appointments said it also received the appointment papers of 36 chiefs of mission, foreign service officers and career ministers at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas, vice chairman of the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA), said the new ambassadors are Alejandro del Rosario, Poland; Ariel Abadilla, Ireland; and Ma. Corazon Bahjin, to the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Gullas said the 19 senior military officers endorsed by Malacañang for CA confirmation for the first time were led by Majors General Romeo Prestoza, Rudival Cabading, Arthur Mancenido, Eduardo Oban Jr., and Arturo Ortiz.Prestoza is former head of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) and now chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (ISAFP).

Also endorsed for CA confirmation for the first time were Brigadiers General Allan Bontuyan, Renato David, William Esplana, Teodoro Evangelista, Carlos Luces, Roberto Morales, Nicolas Ojeda Jr., Felizardo Simoy, Pedro Ramon Sinajon Jr., Alger Tan, and Jose Tony Villarete; Vice Admiral Leonardo Calderon Jr.; and Commodores Rosauro Arnel Gonzales Jr. and Efren Tedor.

They join an old batch of 38 other military officers with the rank of colonel/naval captain or higher whose re-appointments are pending CA confirmation, Gullas said.

Meanwhile, Gullas said the CA's Committee on Constitutional Commissions and Offices chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson is set to deliberate Wednesday on the appointments of Armando Velasco, Lucenito Tagle and Leonardo Leonida. Malacañang reinstalled the three last month as members of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Elias Yusoph's recent appointment as Comelec member could not yet be set for a hearing because his papers were still incomplete, Gullas said.

Gullas said the CA's Committee on National Defense chaired by Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III is also set to hear Wednesday the previous appointments of 24 other senior military officers led by Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, also former chief of the PSG.

All told, Gullas said a total of 121 executives, including 57 new appointees, are now pending CA confirmation.

Besides Yusoph, the 55 new generals and officials at the DFA, Gullas said those endorsed to the CA for the first time also include Press Secretary Cerge Remonde.

Remonde joins four other Cabinet members previously bypassed and reinstalled by Malacañang last month for CA confirmation: Economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes, and Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr.

Civil Service Commission chairman Ricardo Saludo was reinstalled last month and is also pending confirmation, along with former Sen. Orlando Mercado, the designated ambassador to China, North Korea and Mongolia.

The Constitution vests the CA with the power to approve or disapprove presidential appointments. This is part of the checks and balances established by the Constitution to ensure that all government departments function in a manner most beneficial to the public welfare.

Among those subject to CA confirmation are the heads of executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, military officers from the rank of colonel or naval captain, and the heads and members of constitutional commissions and offices.

Six Ambassadors Pledge Support To Peace, Development In Mindanao

The ambassadors of Japan Ryuichiro Yamazaki; Peter Sutherland, of Canada; Kristie Kenney, of the United States, Peter Beckingham, of the United Kingdom; Tony Hely, of Australia; and David Pine, of New Zealand, visited the southern Philippine port city of Zamboanga and Basilan island on Monday 13 Nov 2006 and pledged support to the peace talks between Manila and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which is fighting for a separate Islamic state in the strife-torn region. The 6 countries are staunch allies of the Philippines in the fight against homegrown terrorism.(Mindanao Examiner)

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 13 Nov) - Six ambassadors have pledged support to the Philippine peace efforts in Mindanao and renewed commitments to help develop the troubled island, south of Manila.

The ambassadors -- Ryuichiro Yamazaki, of Japan; Peter Sutherland, of Canada; Kristie Kenney, of the United States, Peter Beckingham, of the United Kingdom; Tony Hely, of Australia; and David Pine, of New Zealand arrived here together and met with senior military commanders and government officials.

"These six countries all support myriad development projects in Mindanao, focusing on education and job skills training, small business development, local governance, improved healthcare, agricultural sustainability, poverty alleviation, peace building and counter-terrorism," a joint statement released by the US Embassy said.

The ambassadors met with Lt. Gen. Eugenio Cedo, commander of the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command and were briefed about the security situation in Mindanao.

They later met with the local mayor Celso Lobregat, who also briefed them about the city's tourism and investment program, before proceeding to the Islamic Institute of the Philippines in the Muslim enclave of Rio Hondo where they mingled with students and teachers.

Kenney also led the turnover ceremony of computers and Internet connections to the school under the program called Computer Literacy and Internet Connection or CLIC.Sutherland said Canada is supporting the peace process and development efforts in Mindanao.

"Our objective in visiting Zamboanga and Basilan is to demonstrate our support to the peace process and development in Mindanao," he said. "We have a collective interest in Mindanao to bring peace and development."

And Japan has also committed to support the peace talks, saying, it already sent a representative to Mindanao to join an international group of cease-fire observers.

"We are also supporting the peace process. We hope to help in the development of Mindanao," said Yamazaki in Zamboanga City.

The group also flew by helicopters to Lamitan town in Basilan island to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a community learning center donated by Australia under the so-called Basic Assistance for Mindanao program.

The 6 countries are staunch allies of the Philippines have provided funds to help the government fight homegrown terrorism. Manila is currently negotiating peace with the MILF, the country's largest Muslim rebel group. (Mindanao Examiner)