Commission on Appointments confirms appointment of 4 envoys, 28 DFA officers

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Appointments (CA) has confirmed the appointments of four new ambassadors and 28 officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Confirmed by the CA during its plenary session last Oct.14 were Enrique Manalo, Jesus Yabes, Mario de Leon Jr., and Jerril Santos.

Manalo, currently DFA undersecretary for Policy, will serve as ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, the Commission of the European Communities (EC) and the Council of the European Union (EU).

Yabes is the new ambassador to Pakistan with concurrent jurisdiction over the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Tajikistan. He is the assistant secretary for Legal Affairs.

De Leon is the new ambassador to South Africa with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Angola, Republic of Botswana, Kingdom of Lesotho, Republic of Mozambique, Republic of Namibia, Kingdom of Swaziland and Republic of Zimbabwe. He is concurrently the assistant secretary for Fiscal Management and the chief coordinator of the Office of the Secretary.

Santos, currently the chief of Presidential Protocol, will serve as Ambassador to Vietnam.

Also confirmed were the promotional appointments of 28 DFA officers: Blesila Cabrera, Chief of Mission Class I; Cristina Ortega, Chief of Mission Class I; Charles Jose, Chief of Mission Class II; Hjayceelyn Quintana, Career Minister; Orontes Castro, Career Minister; Bernadette Therese Fernandez, Career Minister; Bernardita Catalla, Career Minister; Raul Santiago Jr., Career Minister; Ronell Santos, Career Minister; Roy Ecraela, Career Minister; Millicent Paredes, Career Minister.

The CA also confirmed the promotion to Foreign Service Officer Class I of Patrick Chuasoto, Maria Louella Duarte, Nina Cainglet, Indhira Bañares, Robert Ferrer Jr., Marie Charlotte Tang, Aileen Mendiola-Rau, Arlene Macaisa, Leila Lora-Santos, Myla Grace Ragenia Macahilig, Flerida Ann Camille Mayo, Noemi Diaz, Lolita Capco, and Jerome John Castro.