MANILA, Philippines—Yet another retired chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been given a prominent position in the Arroyo administration.

But unlike his peers, it took ex-AFP Chief of Staff Generoso Senga two years to get a plum posting.

The Commission on Appointments (CA) received the appointment papers of Senga as the new ambassador to Iran, Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas said Friday.

Except for Senga, all the AFP chiefs under the Arroyo administration were given civilian appointments soon after they left office.

The other former AFP chiefs serving in government are: Hermogenes Esperon (AFP chief from July 2006-January 2008), presidential adviser on the peace process; Efren Abu (October 2004-August 2005), special envoy to Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA); Narciso Abaya (April 2003-October 2004), president of Bases Conversion and Development Authority; Dionisio Santiago (November 2002-April 2003), director general of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA); Roy Cimatu (May 2002-September 2002) special envoy to the Middle East; Angelo Reyes (July 1999-March 2001) energy secretary.

Gullas, the head of the House contingent to the bicameral CA, said the 58-year-old Senga would also have diplomatic jurisdiction over the former Soviet republics north of Iran—Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Iran is host to over 1,200 overseas Filipino workers most of whom are employed in oil and other energy-related projects. Iran is the world's fourth largest oil exporter, after Saudi Arabia, Russia and Norway.

Senga was AFP chief of staff from Aug. 15, 2005, to July 24, 2006.

It was during hits term that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared a state of national emergency from Feb. 24 to March 3, 2006, supposedly to suppress a coup attempt by disgruntled officers.

Gullas said Malacañang had also endorsed to the CA the nomination papers of Elizabeth Buensuceso and Jocelyn Garcia.

Buensuceso has been appointed new ambassador to Norway, also with jurisdiction over Denmark and Iceland.

Garcia, on the other hand, has been tapped as the next ambassador to Venezuela, also with jurisdiction over Trinidad and Tobago.

86 appointments pending

There are now 86 appointees waiting for confirmation by the CA—29 are new appointees while 57 are re-appointees, said Gullas.

Officials whose appointments or re-appointments are pending CA confirmation include three Cabinet members: Press Secretary Jesus Dureza, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes and Environment Secretary Jose Atienza Jr.

Three election commissioners—Leonardo Leonida, Lucenito Tagle and Moslemen Macarambon—have yet to be confirmed as well.

The 1987 Constitution gives the CA power to approve or disapprove presidential appointments.

This is part of the checks and balances provided for by the Constitution to ensure that the executive branch functions efficiently for the public interest.

Some officials subject to CA confirmation are the heads of executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, military officers from the rank of colonel or naval captain, and the heads and members of constitutional commissions and offices. With Kate Pedroso, Inquirer Research