Duterte names Cayetano as DFA chief
Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano cites how efficient the foreign policy of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is during a press briefing in Malacañan on October 28, 2016. He was named as the Duterte administration's Foreign Affairs secretary on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. King Rodriguez/Presidential Photo
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte appointed close ally Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as the Foreign Affairs secretary, replacing acting Secretary Enrique Manalo.
At a press conference Wednesday, before he leaves for his trips to Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Beijing, Duterte said he already signed the papers of Cayetano’s appointment.
“I remember I signed an appointment just before I left my room and I saw the name of Sen. Cayetano sa DFA,” Duterte said, adding that he just signed it on Wednesday afternoon.
Cayetano has been part of Duterte's delegation during previous trips to Association of Southeast Asian Nations member countries.
Prior to Cayetano's appointment, Manalo replaced Perfecto Yasay whose ad interim appointment was rejected by the Commission on Appointments via unanimous decision after he issued misleading statements on his US citizenship.
Duterte had mentioned that he would appoint Cayetano as foreign affairs secretary after he won the May 2016 polls. Cayetano's naming for his new post came a day after the year-long appointment ban on losing candidates.
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