5 PH ambassadors, 51 DFA officers get CA approval

MANILA, Philippines — The nominations of five Philippine ambassadors and the ad interim appointments of 51 officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) were confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday.

Before the CA plenary, the body’s Committee on Foreign Affairs deliberated on and recommended for approval of the nominations and ad interim appointments of the DFA officers.

During the CA panel’s hearing, the diplomats were asked concerning the country’s dispute in the South China Sea, particularly on the recent issues arising from the presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

The DFA officers were also quizzed on their efforts to curb the trafficking of Filipino women to other countries.

“After deliberating on their qualifications and fitness during the public hearing, determined that they are fit and qualified to be in the posts where they are nominated and appointed, and therefore ruled to recommend to the plenary their appointments for the consent and approval of this body,” Senator Panfilo Lacson, chairperson of the CA committee, said.

Below is the complete list of ambassadors confirmed by the CA:

• Generoso Calonge – Chief of Mission, Class I as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Iraq
• Maria Theresa Dizon-de Vega Chief of Mission, Class I as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Korea
• Maria Lumen Banzon Isleta Chief of Mission, Class I as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Sweden with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Finland
• Maria Elena Palo Algabre Chief of Mission, Class II as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Turkey with concurrent jurisdiction over Georgia and the Republic Azerbaijan
• Alan Lazaro Deniega Chief of Mission, Class II as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Bangladesh with concurrent jurisdiction over the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Republic of Maldives.

The CA also confirmed the ad interim appointments of six senior officials promoted to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class I, 10 others to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class II, another ten to the rank of Career Minister and 25 officials promoted to the rank of Foreign Service Officer, Class I.

Among these officers is Chief of Presidential Protocol Robert Eric Borje.

LACSON LEADS CA’s FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE HEARING:  Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman of the Commission on Appointments’ Committee on Foreign Affairs, presides over a hybrid meeting deliberating on the nominations and ad interim appointments of 56 officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (Henzberg Austria/Senate PRIB)