Teodoro Locsin Jr. breezes thru Commission on Appointments

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Appointments (CA) confirmed yesterday the appointment of Teodoro Locsin Jr. as secretary of foreign affairs in swift proceedings wherein he articulated the Duterte administration’s position on certain international issues.

The CA committee on foreign affairs, chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, took only about half an hour to deliberate on Locsin’s appointment, with Sen. Risa Hontiveros doing most of the grilling on various issues, including the country’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, Chinese bullying in the West Philippine Sea and the influx of illegal Chinese workers.

“I said it is not true that we will waive this right. We do not waive a single inch of what is given to us in the arbitral award in UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” Locsin replied when asked about the administration’s position on the country’s victory in The Hague in its case against China’s nine-dash line claim covering almost the entire South China Sea.

He also pushed for closer coordination with Beijing to avoid confrontation in the West Philippine Sea, and to address the reported influx of illegal Chinese workers.

In moving for his confirmation, Lacson said Locsin has distinguished himself with the credentials and qualifications befitting someone at the helm of the Department of Foreign Affairs, including being a journalist for three decades, a lawyer and a member of Congress.

“As Secretary of Foreign Affairs, we all agree that he will bring his own brand of diplomacy, one that represents the true value of an independent foreign policy enshrined in our Constitution,” Lacson said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said the country’s top diplomat has not backed down from affronts against the country.

“While we may not have missiles to launch, we possess something more potent – Locsin missives, to which no shield has been proven effective against their withering fire,” Recto said, referring to the DFA chief’s comments in social media.

San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora, vice chairman of the committee, said Locsin has never let any insult against the country pass that “he will tweet in his office, he will tweet in his car, he will tweet on the streets, he will never surrender.”

Sen. Grace Poe described Locsin as not just “a good choice, he is the right choice.”

“His appointment gives us assurance that the country’s top diplomat will now be held by one of the most brilliant legal and political minds of this generation,” Poe said.

Malacañang hailed Locsin’s confirmation and expressed confidence that he would fully advance the Philippines’ interests. – Alexis Romero