THE Commission on Appointments (CA) said Wednesday that religion should never be a criterion for the approval of the nomination of Philippine ambassadors.
CA members Representatives Luis Raymund Villafuerte and Johnny Pimentel made this point after Dr. Camad Mangotra and his group opposed the nomination of Raymund Balatbat as Manila’s envoy to Saudi Arabia because he is a “non-Muslim.”
Members of the group had sought the appointment of a “qualified Muslim Arabic-speaking candidate” who has extensive experience in Saudi Arabia that will honor the religious and cultural sensitivities of the kingdom.
The CA approved the nomination of ambassadors Antonio Morales to Australia, with concurrent jurisdiction over Nauru, Tuvalu and Vanuatu; Domingo Nolasco to Finland; Noel Eugene Servigon to Romania; Nina Cainglet to Bangladesh with concurrent jurisdiction over Sri Lanka and Maldives; Adrian Bernie Candolada to Colombia with concurrent jurisdiction over Ecuador and Venezuela; Giovanni Palec, as non-resident ambassador to North Macedonia, in addition to being ambassador to Greece with concurrent jurisdiction over Cyprus; and Raymond Balatbat, Saudi Arabia with concurrent jurisdiction over Yemen.
The ad interim appointments of the following DFA officers were also approved: career ministers Jabbar Adiong, Jed Martin Llona, Edwin Gil Mendoza, Jeffrey Salik, Zoilo Velasco; and foreign service officers Juan Carlos Borromeo, Dyan Kristine Miranda-Pastrana and Ella Karina Mitra.
“While they are opposing the nominee, it is also their prerogative to recommend somebody. However, I would like to remind the oppositors that everybody is free to recommend, but the appointing authority rests upon the Department of Foreign Affairs and the President, which they submit to the CA,” Villafuerte said.
He continued, “In answer to their concern, there are Muslim ambassadors appointed to the Vatican. So, it is a clear indication that in foreign relations, religion should not be used as a basis and Ambassador Balatbat has already been assigned to Muslim countries like Brunei, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon.”
Villafuerte added, “Out of the 125 heads of mission presently based in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 68 are Muslims and 57 are non-Muslims.”
“I am just basing my opinion based on the position of the DFA. The DFA, they are the ones who are well versed whether a nominee is qualified or not. I believe that if Ambassador Balatbat is not qualified for the position, they would not even consider recommending him. So, therefore, we should throw out this opposition,” Pimentel added, referring to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“So, considering the experience of the nominee that he has been assigned to Muslim countries, I am very sure that he has a clear grasp of the Muslim culture. I believe that the nominee is qualified and capable to handle the position as ambassador to Saudi Arabia,” Pimentel said.
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