I think the comment stems from the pervasive demoralization among the DFA personnel brought on by their lack of confidence in the leadership of Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo, on both substantive and administrative matters.

One source of demoralization among the professional staff is the seeming inability of Romulo to stand up to his boss, Ms. Gloria Arroyo, when it comes to the appointment of political ambassadors.

For instance, no one could say if he was consulted or if he expressed concern over Arroyo's appointment of another retired general, Noe Wong, as ambassador to a Southeast Asian country.

If and when Wong's appointment is confirmed by the Commission on Appointments, he will be displacing a career ambassador who, sadly, was displaced not too long ago from her previous post - because of another political appointee. (Boy, am I glad I am no longer in the service. I wouldn't want to be treated like a ping-pong ball.)

And it looks like the assignment of another political ambassador is in the works. News reports say that Ms. Cristina Ponce-Enrile, estranged wife of the senator, has been appointed by Ms. Arroyo as envoy to the Holy See.

***

There are dozens of DFA professionals who passed the most difficult of government examinations and have attained the rank of chief of mission after years of dedicated work. As such, although admittedly there are exceptions, they are qualified and are entitled to become ambassadors to other countries.

However, because of the appointment of too many political ambassadors, not to mention the extension of services of several ambassadors, both political and career, who cling to their posts like blood-sucking leeches either beyond the six-year rotation period or beyond the retirement age of 65, many professionals are deprived of the chance to become ambassadors themselves.

Some have retired without becoming one. Others have been assigned as ambassadors months before reaching retirement age and subsequently had their assignment extended, thus delaying the posting of others also nearing retirement age. And so, the vicious cycle continues with no end in sight.

***

Demoralization in the DFA is not confined to career officers. It is also prevalent among the rank and file, principally due to non-compliance with the promotion and rotation systems.

Perhaps Romulo should start utilizing more fully the services of his undersecretary for administration who I am told has not exactly been proactive in the performance of his duties.

***

I wonder how the top leadership will react if by some miracle, the whole DFA staff should find the gumption to protest through work stoppage the wrong being done to them. If memory serves, the men and women of the French Foreign Service once did. Just a thought. The French government, by the way, reportedly gave in to the demands of the foreign ministry personnel.

***

Romulo, who is a square peg in a round hole in the DFA to start with, will have nothing much to show for his stint when he finally decides he serves the national interest no longer or when Arroyo decides to replace him.

Perhaps it's time he started thinking of leaving a legacy that would be worth remembering. And where better to start than by looking after the interests of the Department itself and the professionals running it? A demoralized staff cannot be expected to give their all when they know that at the end of the day, whatever they do doesn't really matter.

It's true Romulo has managed to have the allowances of those assigned abroad increased to a more reasonable level. However, because it took so long before they became effective and with the continuing depreciation of the US dollar vis-à-vis other major currencies, the gains made have substantially been negated.

***

There is one thing Romulo can do that will certainly leave a favorable impression in the minds of the most important constituency of the DFA at the moment - the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs).

He can reduce the fees charged for consular services abroad to a more reasonable level, particularly the passport fee. Right now, a passport costs P500 here at home. Abroad, it costs $50 or about P2,000.

***

I am informed that appropriate charges will be filed against the officer formerly assigned to our embassy in Tokyo who committed the crime of tampering with blank passports.

The head of the post and his deputy, however, will not be taken to task for the transgression based on the principle of command responsibility. That will be a wrong message to the younger officers in the service.

***

The government has finally decided to engage the services of a lobbying firm in Washington for six months at a cost of $500,000.

Our ambassador to the US said a copy of the contract will be made public after all the formalities have been complied with.

I personally do not care about the contract itself. There is nothing more that anyone can do to change its terms. It has been signed. What I would like to see is an accomplishment report after six months.

***

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and a handful of senators have urged the proposed chairman of the Commission on Elections, former Supreme Court Justice Jose Melo, to put a closure to the "Hello Garci" scandal.

Surely, it must have occurred to these parties that Ms. Arroyo will not name a Comelec chairman who she knows will not toe the line on the one issue that is most important to her - her legitimacy as president.

Do they honestly or naively think she would waste all the efforts she has exerted and all the money she has poured into the pockets of our honorable congressmen by naming someone who would revive the 2004 election cheating scandal?

See? When Melo did not categorically say no when asked if he would put a closure to the "Hello Garci" scandal, the whereabouts of his appointment papers suddenly became a mystery.

***

The CBCP virtually laid the blame for the state we are in on the Filipino people. I suggest the bishops should look at themselves first before putting the blame entirely on others.

Look at them. Can anyone truly say they have gotten their act together? Some support Arroyo outright. Others are highly critical of her. Some have allegedly received envelopes from her. Others have not.

Let me ask then, is the CBCP a body that the Filipino people can look up to for inspiration and guidance?

Maybe the bishops have been too preoccupied with their own brand of politics that they have not noticed the proliferation of born-again groups in the country. To me, that is a sign that the people are disillusioned with the ways of the Catholic prelates.

***

Did you notice there was hardly any media coverage of Ms. Arroyo's return from her trip to Switzerland and Dubai? It almost seemed like she surreptitiously slipped back into the country.

There was also none of the usual glowing reports from her press secretary on things accomplished during her sojourn to a country best known for chocolates and numbered bank accounts, and to an emirate in the Middle East where conspicuous consumption is an understatement and where the only 7-star hotel in the world is located - and where she stayed, incidentally.

The question is, was the trip that cost an estimated P82 million worth it? It looks like it wasn't.

***

His three-month extension as AFP chief of staff has not yet even started and already, they are talking about what government post he will get when his extension expires in May.

General Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. must really have done something special for the Arroyo regime to deserve such treatment.

***

Today is the 284th day of Jonas Burgos' disappearance.

The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered Lt. Col. Melquiades Feliciano, commanding officer of the Army's 56th Infantry Battalion, to testify before the court on the disappearance of Jonas.

Depending on Feliciano's testimony, the CA will then decide if AFP chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon and Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano should also be subpoenaed.