THE Commission on Appointments on Wednesday approved the ad interim appointments and nominations of 60 foreign service officers, including 11 ambassadors led by former Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddyboy” L. Locsin Jr.
The CA plenary also confirmed the ad interim appointments of two Cabinet secretaries: Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla of Energy; and Renato Solidum of Science and Technology.
In a statement, the Makati Business Club hailed Lotilla’s confirmation, saying it “strengthens the government’s ongoing efforts to build up a transparent, competitive, and performance-based energy industry.”
Energy policy, MBC said, “is always subject to strong economic, political, and other headwinds. Secretary Lotilla’s confirmation helps ensure we pursue policies that can help avert blackouts, control energy prices, and ramp up supply to attract investments and create jobs.”
Locsin was confirmed as Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with concurrent jurisdiction over Ireland, Isle of Man, Bailiwick of Jersey, and Bailiwkck of Guernsey.
The CA plenary, acting on the endorsement by the Commission’s Committee on Foreign Affairs led by Senator Jinggoy Estrada, also approved the appointments of 10 other ambassadors, but deferred action on Manual Teehankee as ambassador to the World Trade Organization in Geneva.
CA leaders stressed that they did not object to Teehankee’s confirmation, but certain members needed time to ask him “policy questions,” so his.
In endorsing to plenary the list of foreign service officers, Senator Estrada described Locsin as “one of the brightest and most independent diplomats our country has ever produced.”
Jaime Adriano Florcruz, a former veteran international journalist like his predecessor and close friend, the late Chito Sta. Romana, was confirmed as top envoy to China after fielding numerous questions on the Philippine policy in handling its complicated maritime relations with its Asian neighbor.
The CA confirmed, meanwhile, the ad interim appointments of the following ambassadors, besides Locsin and Florcruz:
Maria Andrelita Sacramento Austria, Ambassador to Canada Evangelina Lourdes Arroyo Bernas, Ambassador to Austria, with concurrent jurisdiction over Republic of Croatia, Republic of Slovenia, and Slovak Republic. The daughter of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo topped the foreign service exam on the year her mother became president but out of delicadeza, she did not join the DFA then.
Celeste Vinzon Balatbat, Ambassador to Republic of Chile, with concurrent jurisdiction over Ecuador and Peru.
Jose Almodovar Cabrera III, Ambassador to State of Kuwait.
Roberto Gutierrez Manalo, Ambassador to Islamic Republic of Iran, with concurrent jurisdiction over Republic of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Belinda Mariano Ante, Ambasador to Democcratic Republic of Timor Leste
Maria Agnes Maglasang Cervantes, Ambassador to Islamic Republic of Pakistan with concurrent jurisdiction over Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Kyrgyz Republic and Republic of Tajkistan
Leo Tito Lunar Ausan Jr., Ambassador to People’s Republic of Bangladesh with concurrent jurisdiction over Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Republic of Maldives.
Anne Jalandon Louis, Ambassador to Kingdom of Bahrain.
Image credits: Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB