1.

Astraquillo
214 SCRA 567

vs. Manglapus (terminated ambassadors)

FACTS:
Isabelo J. Astraquillo was appointed by the President as Ambassador
to United Arab Emirates. After occupying the post for 2 years, his wife and cousin-inlaw was accused of improper interference with his functions. Thus the Secretary of
Foreign Affairs recommended to the President AstraquilloS termination as
Ambassador, it is approved by the authority of the President.
Alunan Glang was appointed by President Aquino as Ambassador to Kuwait. Two
years afterwards he received telex message from Sec. of Foreign Affairs informing
him that his services as ambassador is terminated and directing him to vacate his
post.
Alejandro Melchor Jr. was also appointed by the President Aquino as Ambassador.
And just the same the secretary of FA recommended to the president the
termination of the services of Melchor, which was approved.
Summary: It is a consolidated and jointly considered cases because they all turn
upon a common legal issue. The consolidated petition is questioning the validity of
the termination of petitioners appointment as political or non-career members of
the countrys Foreign Service by authority of the President of the Philippines who
approved the recommendation for termination issued by the Sec. of Foreign affairs.
ISSUE: Whether or not there services as Philippine Diplomats were under the
circumstances, at the pleasure of the President, terminable without cause or need of
investigation?
HELD: YES, since under the non-career service in accordance to Section 6 of P.D.
807 all three petitioners: Astroquillo, GLang and Melchor Jr. whose appointments to
the Foreign Service were made on bases other than those of the usual test of merit
and fitness utilized for the career service. This being so, their tenure was coterminus with that of the appointing authority subject to his pleasures.
Wherefore, the petitions in the cases embraced in this opinion are all denied, with
costs against the petitioners.