By: Secretary Perfecto R. Yasay Jr., Department of Foreign Affairs
06 January 2017

A funny but perhaps true distinction between a diplomat and a politician asserts thus: A "politician" is one who immediately decides to talk for hours about an issue without even thinking while a "diplomat" thinks for hours to decide not to say anything.

Apparently, one former diplomat chose to be a politician instead by immediately commenting on the case of Ambassador Evan Garcia without even pausing to think and ascertain the facts.

Mr. Evan Garcia, a career diplomat was appointed by former President Benigno S. Aquino as ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK). After going through confirmation by the Commission of Appointments (CA) and receiving the Agreement from the host country, he was posted to London in April even before presenting his credentials as a mere formality. Meanwhile, after assuming office President Rodrigo Roa Duterte appointed a new ambassador to the UK who still had to go through the confirmation process and acceptance of his Agreement before he could replace Ambassador Garcia.

As a result, it was suggested by the UK ambassador to the Philippines that Ambassador Garcia obtain a new appointment from President Duterte before presenting his credentials to Her Majesty The Queen.

I objected and suggested instead, that because Evan had already completed his appointment process and had assumed as ambassador, he should proceed with presenting his credentials while the new political appointee was still undergoing the confirmation process and could not yet assume his post. For this reason, Ambassador Garcia was able to present his credentials in October without any hitch.

Now that the political appointee Ambassador Lagdameo has completed the process of his appointment; I had to find a new posting for Ambassador Garcia being a career diplomat who has not yet retired from the service. After consultations with him, I immediately recommended him to the President as our Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva. However, because his appointment is still pending and he still has to go through another confirmation process with the CA, to be fair with Ambassador Garcia, I immediately assigned him as our Chargé d'Affaires in the Geneva post, with his consent. This appointment I could do on my own as Foreign Affairs Secretary, while awaiting for the completion of his appointment process as Permanent Representative.

Now would anybody tell me that the DFA was rude or disrespectful to Ambassador Garcia or that Her Majesty the Queen caused an embarrassment to the nation by delaying, for compelling reasons, receiving his credentials? END