For DFA, Yasay picks old hands

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. has appointed trade diplomat Manuel A.J. Teehankee and retired ambassador Ariel Abadilla as new undersecretaries for international economic relations and civilian security and consular concerns, respectively.

Abadilla served as ambassador to Ireland under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. But the chancery in Dublin closed in 2012 and he was posted as ambassador to United Kingdom who also had jurisdiction over Dublin.

His diplomatic postings include  New York, Houston, Seattle, Beijing, Sydney, Washington D.C. and Hawaii.

Undersecretary Teehankee meanwhile served as the country’s permanent representative to the World Trade Organization in Geneva from 2004 to 2011. He has also served as justice undersecretary.

Yasay likewise retained senior diplomats Jesus Yabes and Linglingay Lacanlale as undersecretaries for migrant workers affairs and administration respectively. Yabes was recently awarded the Order of Sikatuna by former President Aquino for negotiating the safe repatriation of Filipinos trapped in uprising during the Arab Spring.

Foreign Undersecretary for policy Enrique Manalo on the other hand was retained as he was only appointed early this year from his diplomatic posting as ambassador to United Kingdom.

In his first flag ceremony last week, secretary Yasay said DFA officials and personnel to serve the people with integrity and sincerity most especially the overseas Filipino workers.