Duterte appoints Mon Tulfo as special envoy to China

Ramon “Mon” Tulfo. Photo from Tulfo’s Facebook account

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed broadcaster Ramon “Mon” Tulfo as his special envoy for public diplomacy to China.

Duterte signed Tulfo’s appointment paper on Tuesday, which was released to Malacañang reporters on Thursday.

Tulfo will hold the post for six months.

Earlier, Tulfo, in his October 6 column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, said he will not run for Senate despite faring well in pre-election surveys. He added that he rejected the help offered by Duterte for his senatorial bid.

READ: Special envoy to China, my next job

Instead of running for senator, the broadcaster offered to become a special envoy to China, which Duterte agreed to.

“As special envoy to China, which pays only P1 per year, I could retain my public service program—Isumbong mo kay Tulfo—on dzRP, my bread and butter,” he wrote.

Duterte also signed on Tuesday the appointment paper of incumbent Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza as special envoy to the European Union.

Dureza will hold the post until Dec. 31, 2018.

Meanwhile, Raquel Rodriguez Tobias was appointed as Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.

For the Department of Tourism, Duterte appointed Myra Paz Abubakar as Assistant Secretary. /je