The increasing number of “scandalous” allegations hurled against several Philippine ambassadors posted abroad has alarmed Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, an official of the department said on Thursday.

The official, who refused to be identified, said that the Department of Foreign Affairs has been receiving numerous complaints against its ambassadors, the latest of which was against Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Grace Relucio Princesa.

“He [del Rosario] is definitely worried because these allegations can affect the overall image of the [department]. All of these are being looked at,” the source told The Manila Times.

But the source stressed that inquiries into such incidences cannot be “railroaded” the way some groups are pushing the department to do.

“They [complainants] must understand that allegations like these have also been proven false in the past. [The department] is very careful not to [ruin] the reputations of their ambassadors,” the source said.

A trader has accused Princesa of not paying for a batch of furniture worth P2 million.

The trader said that Princesa told him that the furniture will be showcased for Arab clients at the Philippine Embassy but some of the items ended up in her official residence.

Earlier, the Alliance of Concerned Overseas Filipino Workers in Abu Dhabi said that Princesa misused community funds that were intended for charitable projects meant to provide assistance for distressed Filipinos in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other emirates.

The group also alleged that several events at the embassy have become sources of “graft and deception” for Princesa. Aside from Princesa, Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Shulan Primavera is also facing administrative charges for the sexual harassment allegations hurled against him by a Filipino maid in November.

He is still in “floating” status since inquiries into the incidences have not been concluded yet.
Primavera pointed to former ambassador to Kuwait Eric Endaya as the one behind the malicious allegations.