Duterte picks presidential protocol officer as envoy to US

MANILA, Philippines -- President Rodrigo Duterte has named his chief protocol officer Marciano Paynor Jr. the new Philippine ambassador to the United States.

 

The president cited Paynor's experience -- he is a former ambassador -- as a "seasoned" diplomat as his reason for choosing him as envoy to the US after Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana turned down the offer.

 

Paynor replaces Former Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia.

 

A former mediaman, Robert Borje, will be the president's new protocol officer. Borje is currently second secretary, Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations.

 

Paynor graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1971. He also served as protocol chief to former Presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He was also director general of the APEC 2015 National Organizing Council and served as Arroyo's presidential assistant for state and foreign visits.

 

Paynor has also previously served in Philippine diplomatic posts in Washington DC, Gabon, Budapest, Rome, Israel and Cyprus. He was also consul general in the consulates in Los Angeles and San Francisco, according to a 2007 report by the Philippines News Agency.

 

Although presidents nominate ambassadors, Paynor's new designation will still need to be approved by the congressional Commission on Appointments.