The man at the right elbow of the President
BELOW THE LINE
By AMBASSADOR JOSE ABETO ZAIDE
"You can resist an invading army; you cannot resist an idea whose time has come." — Victor Hugo
Ambassador José Abeto Zaide
Today is the first day of the month; hopefully no April Fool surprise for anyone.
A deep throat source flagged this memory lane piece to me following a sequence of events -- the 91st birth anniversary of former President Fidel V. Ramos and the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
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PM Mahathir is a sprightly 93 years old, the senior most serving head of government. The chemistry between Mahathir and our President Rodrigo Duterte is heartening. The two leaders spoke about furthering cross-border barter trade, and more consequentially, reviving the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asia Growth Area).
A high-water mark to any envoy is to serve his President who is visiting his post. Better yet, Ambassador Alberto Encomienda was pulled out from Athens in mid-December, 1992, and given marching orders to proceed to Kuala Lumpur where President Fidel V. Ramos would make an official visit.
Like a good soldier, Encomienda flew to Manila for updated briefing; and, with the cross-posting, survived again the gauntlet of advice and Consent of the bicameral Commission on Appointments. On the way back, he stopped over in KL to see the lay of the land, to anticipate essential arrangements and to prepare for meeting officials and the business sector during the President’s visit. In Athens, he bade farewell to Greek officialdom and the Foreign Office and to the dean and the diplomatic corps colleagues. Fortunately, Orthodox Christmas is 13 days later (7 January), giving him December to do the needful before proceeding to KL
DFA-ASPAC briefed President Ramos on the Malaysia calendar. On Day One, Prime Minister Mahathir hosted a state dinner at the Malaysian Guest House for the President Ramos and the Philippine delegation. State protocol was perfect to a T.
Ambassador Encomienda was back at his suite to recharge his batteries for the next day' s formal talks when the telephone rang. It was Balong, PFVR's Man Friday, who said, "The President would like to see you, Mr. Ambassador. Can you come over?"
Our ambassador knotted back his four-in-hand necktie, donned his suit, and rushed to PFVR's suite. He found the President deep in thought. Noticing the ambassador, Ramos asked, "So, what do you think?"
A very pointed question, completely unanticipated. But, reflexively, our Man in Kuala Lumpur answered, " I strongly recommend ampat mata meeting (meeting under four eyes) with PM Mahathir, Mr. President."
“You really think so?” PFVR held a pregnant pause, before continuing, “Let me sleep on that." The audience ended there.
To this day, the now retired Alberto Encomienda doesn’t know why he said what he said. But it was a seasoned diplomat's answer at the spur of the moment on the state of affairs of our bilateral relations. One-on-one summitry, without aides, is uncommon in our diplomatic practice. But within the privileged circle of the ASEAN, we may recourse to this to sort out thorny issues. The Philippines and Malaysia are the closest neighbors; but our relations are fraught with challenges and opportunities. Translation: Sabah.
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Very early the next morning, the usual Ramos time, PFVR gave the green light to his envoy, “Go ahead, Ambassador. Arrange that one-on-one!"
Much later, Ambassador Encomienda espied his Malaysian counterpart Ambassador Rastam Isa, and siddled up to him to say that President Ramos proposed a four- eyes meeting of the two leaders. Ambassador Rastam riposted that all the substantive and protocol matters had been agreed. "We have dotted the i's and crossed the t’s...and I am afraid anything we add or amend will upset arrangements."
Was that the final word? Our envoy hoped against hope in the US Marine mantra about "The impossible just takes a little longer." But there was little time left.
A few minutes later, it would be the turn of a frantic Ambassador Rastam to rush back, panting, "There will be a one-on-one meeting between the PM and President Ramos!"
Mahathir arrived, punctual to the moment; likewise, PFVR. The two leaders shook hands; and after both leaders entered the adjoining room, the door closed on the two delegations.
A peripatetic Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo fidgeted impatiently, and asked our ambassador, "What’s this all about?! This wasn't in the program!!” Our envoy replied, stiff upper lip (my lips are sealed), that he was also not in the loop…then added (tactfully) that the exclusive highest level bilaterals must have been arranged between the President and the Prime Minister.
Fifteen minutes became 30, and the meeting continued behind closed doors. No notetakers, no eavesdroppers. An eternity for the Philippine delegation...and just as surely for the Malaysian hosts.
After another half hour, the door opened; and the President and the PM resurfaced, sprightly and jovial like long fast friends. Mahathir said that the two countries would partner in cooperation on BIMP-EAGA. They would put aside knotty issues (Sabah), and open avenues with multiplier benefits to everyone, including the proprietary heirs of the Sultan of Sulu.
The two delegations would focus their meeting on this tone-setting new road map for win-win joint ventures.
Lesson One: PFVR listens to the man on the spot (and even to a foot soldier), a quality rare for a head of State.
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Postscript: Our earnest prayer is that President Duterte and PM Mahathir can dust up, revive and redirect efforts to mutual advantage. With permutations in Southern Philippines, we should suit action to the word: The Ramos-Mahathir joint venture on BIMP-EAGA is an impulse whose time is upon us.
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