Almendras: I can’t say no to Aquino

New DFA chief Jose Rene Almendras. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

SAYING he will be the shortest serving foreign secretary, Jose Rene Almendras on Monday asked the officers and the rank and file at the Department of Foreign Affairs to bear with him in his next 108 days in office.

Speaking during the flag-raising at the DFA building, Almendras admitted he had big shoes to fill with the retirement of Albert del Rosario.

“I have never claimed expertise or brilliance… but I do know there are a lot of good people at the DFA,” he said. Almendras served as energy secretary and secretary to the Cabinet prior to his appointment as acting secretary of foreign affairs.

He said he was casually asked by President Aquino over lunch to consider the post of foreign secretary. The President gave him one day to make a decision.

He said he told the President: “I never really had the privilege to say no to you and I know how important the portfolio is. And I understand the challenges that we are facing.”

Almendras made mention of the Inquirer commentary of Amando Doronila on Monday questioning his appointment.

“There’s an article in the Inquirer saying how inexperienced and how undeserving I am to this office. I fully agree with it,” Almendras said.

To the DFA officers and employees, he said: “Please be patient with me when I break protocol. I’d rather be informal, be very casual.”

Almendras’ appointment comes at a crucial time as the Philippines awaits the ruling of a UN arbitral tribunal in The Hague, the Netherlands, on the country’s challenge to China’s nine-dash line claims.

The decision is expected in April or May, according to an earlier DFA statement.

Del Rosario announced his resignation citing health reasons last month.

Almendras said that before Del Rosario stepped down, plans of action were laid out.

“We will just follow those plans,” he said.