MANILA - Ambassador Hilario Davide Jr. has resigned as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations to campaign for his son and namesake, Hilario III, who is running for governor of Cebu in the May elections.
In a text message, Davide said he has asked Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo to relieve him of his duties effective April 1, but is still waiting for the secretary to act on his request.
Romulo has confirmed that Davide did make such a request.
Davide is in Manila for the three-day Special Non-Alligned Movement Ministerial Meeting on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace and Development (SNAMM) which is being hosted by the Philippines.
Davide will host a dinner on Thursday for the participating ministers before he flies back to New York on Saturday.
At the opening of the SNAMM on Wednesday, Davide begged off from answering questions about the report of his resignation that had been confirmed by his son.
But a source privy to Davide’s work at the UN said Davide believes “it would be inappropriate for him to stay on in the mission and at the same time campaign for his son. It’s really a love of his father for his son.”
It was not clear when Davide had informed Romulo of his intention to resign, or whether it was made orally or not, although the source said this could have been made “a few weeks ago.”
A former Chief Justice, Davide has been credited with steering important Philippine initiatives in the UN such as the interfaith dialogue, the peacekeeping operations and UN reforms, including questioning the veto power by Security Council members.
He is “highly respected and very popular in the UN,” the source said.
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