Almendras named DFA chief

PRESIDENT AQUINO has appointed Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras ad interim head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Malacañang announced late last night.

Almendras replaced Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario whose resignation took effect on March 8, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement sent to reporters on Tuesday night.

Citing health reasons, Del Rosario resigned from the Cabinet last month.

ALMENDRAS Third Cabinet post

This is the third Cabinet post for Almendras, one of President Aquino’s closest friends. Almendras first served as energy secretary before being appointed secretary to the Cabinet.

The interim DFA head takes over the post amid the pressing security problem in the Korean Peninsula, where the UN Security Council recently imposed harsh sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear program.

The Philippines was the first country to impound a North Korean vessel following UN Resolution No. 2270, which states that these ships should be inspected to ensure they had no dangerous cargo from North Korea.

The Philippines is also awaiting the decision of the UN arbitral tribunal on its protest against China’s so-called nine-dash line that claims almost the entire South China Sea. The decision is expected in May.

Foreign Undersecretary Laura del Rosario sent her congratulations to Almendras and said she was “looking forward to working closely with him in implementing the country’s foreign policy.”