By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS
LONDON is one of the most coveted posts in foreign service, including for Philippine diplomats.
The Philippine is currently represented there by Evan Ralph Garcia, who assumed the post last May.
A career diplomat who had served in embassies in Washington D.C, Tokyo, and as Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Garcia was undersecretary for Policy before he was sent to the United Kingdom.
For career officers like Garcia, their foreign assignments last six years, then they return to the home office for three years’ service before they are sent out again. The six years can be in one foreign post or they can be assigned in two posts. A term of three years in a foreign post gives the ambassador time to learn about the host country and establish a network to strengthen relations with the Philippines. Of course, this is just the usual practice and can be changed by the powers that be. But less than three years in one post for an ambassador is a waste of money.
Salvador Panelo, who was spokesman of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte for a month, was said to desire to be ambassador to the Court of St. James. He has a new position now: presidential legal adviser.
People in the DFA heaved a sigh of relief that the Philippine ambassador to Court of St James would not be the one who wears ripped jeans and leather jackets.
But what’s this we hear that former finance secretary Roberto de Ocampo and ambassador to Philippe Jones Lhuillier are also interested in the London post?
A source said De Ocampo is being backed by former Fidel V. Ramos, who supported Duterte in the last election.
Aside from FVR’s support, De Ocampo hopes to impress the incoming president with the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Queen Elizabeth II bestowed on him by the then British Ambassador Stephen Lillie in 2012 for his contribution to the development of UK-Philippines relations.
London is close to de Ocampo’s heart because he took a post-graduate course from the London School of Economics in 1971.
De Acampo’s résumé is impressive.
As secretary of finance, he is credited for economic liberalization policies and measures notably the opening of banking and insurance industries to foreign investment.
He was named “Finance Minister of the Year” by Euro money Magazine in 1995, the first Filipino and second ASEAN finance minister to be given that award. In 1997, he was again cited as “Asian Finance Minister of the Year.”
It was however, during his term that the Philippine peso devalued from P26 to $1 to P41 to $1 when the country was swept into the Asian Financial crisis.
He is currently the chairman of the Philippine Veterans Bank.
At least two businessmen said De Ocampo is not known for diligence. He is more “into enjoying the perks” of the position.
Recently, de Ocampo wrote an opinion piece in the Inquirer favoring Duterte communication style and made suggestions on projects that should be prioritized.
Lhuillier, another aspirant for the London post, is seen by career officers as an anomaly in the DFA.
The owner of Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop, he was first appointed ambassador to Italy by President Joseph Estrada in 1999.
Since then, he has never been recalled. He stayed in Italy up to 2010, during which time the family’s business of Cebuana Lhuillier remittances in the city flourished. DFA sources said he has aspired to be named ambassador to France but instead he was sent to Portugal by President Aquino.
His chances of getting the London post depends on his Cebu connection to Duterte.
The competition for the London post is getting fiercer and fiercer. And it’s not even vacant.
