Aquino asked to withdraw appointment of family friend

MANILA, Philippines — Saying national interest should take precedence over personal friendship, a senator on Wednesday urged President Benigno Aquino III to withdraw the appointment of Philippine ambassador to China Domingo Lee.

“I think in the interest of the Filipino people, President Aquino has to withdraw (Lee’s appointment),” said Senator Sergio Osmena, who questioned Lee’s qualifications during his confirmation hearing of the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday.

“Please naman, send a real diplomat. Friendship is not enough when you are in the high level diplomacy. You follow the orders of your government and you should know how to carry it out properly,” said Osmena.

The senator said Lee is very close friend of the Aquino family particularly to the President’s father, martyred Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino. In fact, Lee was named ambassador at large during the time of the late Corazon Aquino.

“I don’t doubt his loyalty. But I think national interest should please take precedence over personal friendship,” he said.

If not for the Aquinos, Osmena said Lee would have not been considered even for the ambassadorship to New Guinea.

Osmena said he would invoke Section 20 of the rules of the CA to block the appointment of Lee. Section 20 allows a single member of the Commission to veto the confirmation of any nominee.

“Yes, I will do everything in my power to make sure that he’s not our ambassador to Beijing for the sake of my children,” he said.

And the senator was confident that more senators and congressmen would be able to convince that Lee was not the best man for the job.

Osmena said he would raise more questions at Lee when he returns to the CA.