By Shielo Mendoza
In fear of a disastrous outcome, a senator appealed to President Benigno Aquino III to withdraw the appointment of Domingo Lee as the country’s ambassador to China.
Senator Sergio Osmena, also a member of the powerful Commission on Appointment, expressed his concern over Lee’s alleged incompetence and inexperience after failing to convince the commission that he is qualified for the position.
“I can see several pending disasters that's going to happen if you put an incompetent person like Domingo Lee as ambassador to Beijing and I am appealing to the president to withdraw his nomination because it is not fair to the Filipino people,” Osmena said.
During Lee’s confirmation hearing Wednesday, the senator asked him if he’s aware of the official Chinese newspaper The Global Times which called for a war against the Philippines and Vietnam over the South China Sea.
The appointed ambassador, however, admitted that he has not read the article.
Lee also failed to define correctly the terms “diplomacy” and “hard power” during the hearing.
Osmena said he “can’t even quantify the danger to the Filipino people” if the ambassador would be that “laid-back.”
“That's what I am telling Malacañang. Ipadala mo iyan sa Argentina o sa Italy, hindi ako mag-question diyan pero we're about to go to war with the second most powerful nation in the world. Their economy is already number two, their military is about to become number two. And then we're going to send somebody like this guy,” the senator added.
Osmena further claimed that Aquino’s personal friendship with Lee has overtaken national interest.
The commission suspended its hearing without endorsing Lee’s appointment to the plenary.
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In fear of a disastrous outcome, a senator appealed to President Benigno Aquino III to withdraw the appointment of Domingo Lee as the country’s ambassador to China.
Senator Sergio Osmena, also a member of the powerful Commission on Appointment, expressed his concern over Lee’s alleged incompetence and inexperience after failing to convince the commission that he is qualified for the position.
“I can see several pending disasters that's going to happen if you put an incompetent person like Domingo Lee as ambassador to Beijing and I am appealing to the president to withdraw his nomination because it is not fair to the Filipino people,” Osmena said.
During Lee’s confirmation hearing Wednesday, the senator asked him if he’s aware of the official Chinese newspaper The Global Times which called for a war against the Philippines and Vietnam over the South China Sea.
The appointed ambassador, however, admitted that he has not read the article.
Lee also failed to define correctly the terms “diplomacy” and “hard power” during the hearing.
Osmena said he “can’t even quantify the danger to the Filipino people” if the ambassador would be that “laid-back.”
“That's what I am telling Malacañang. Ipadala mo iyan sa Argentina o sa Italy, hindi ako mag-question diyan pero we're about to go to war with the second most powerful nation in the world. Their economy is already number two, their military is about to become number two. And then we're going to send somebody like this guy,” the senator added.
Osmena further claimed that Aquino’s personal friendship with Lee has overtaken national interest.
The commission suspended its hearing without endorsing Lee’s appointment to the plenary.
