The Commission on Appointments (CA), comprising senators and congressmen, readily confirmed Wednesday Malacañang’s nomination of eight new ambassadors and 12 senior officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of CA Committee on Foreign Affairs, paved the way for the timely endorsement of the confirmation of DFA officers after validating the qualifications of the nominees, including eight ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary, as well as the ad interim appointments of 12 senior Officials of the DFA consisting of two senior officials promoted to the rank of chief of mission, Class I; four senior officials promoted to the rank of chief of mission, Class II; five senior officials promoted to the rank of career minister; and a senior official promoted to the rank of Foreign Service Officer, Class 1.
In endorsing the nominees, Lacson assured CA members that “your Committee, after deliberating on their qualifications and fitness during the public hearing, determined that they are fit and qualified to be in the posts where they are nominated and appointed, and, therefore, ruled to recommend to plenary their appointments for the consent and approval of this body.
The newly confirmed DFA envoys include:
Ambassador Noralyn Jubaira Baja, as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of South Africa, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Botswana, Kingdom of Eswatini, Kingdom of Madagascar, Republic of Mauritius, Republic of Mozambique, Republic of Namibia, Republic of Zambia and Republic of Zimbabwe, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class 1.
Ambassador Eduardo Eco Kapunan Jr. as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Germany, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class I.
Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the French Republic with concurrent jurisdiction over the Principality of Monaco, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class I.
Ambassador Deena Joy Dy Amatong as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class II.
Ambassador Igor Garlit Bailen as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Belarus and Republic of Kazakhstan, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class II.
Ambassador Enrico Trinidad Fos as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Norway with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Iceland, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class II.
Ambassador Marie Charlotte Golim Tang as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Kenya with concurrent jurisdiction over the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Seychelles, Federal Republic of Somalia, Republic of South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Uganda, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of Burundi and Union of the Comoros, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class II.
Ambassador Marian Jocelyn R. Tirol-Ignacio as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Negara Brunei Darussalam, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class II.