Enrique Manalo named acting Foreign Secretary after Yasay rejection

Foreign affairs Undersecretary Enrique Manalo arrives at the DFA headquarters in Pasay on Thursday, March 9, 2017. Inquirer/Grig C. Montegrande

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday appointed Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique Manalo as Acting Secretary following the Commission on Appointments’ (CA) rejection of the ad interim position of Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.

READ: CA rejects appointment of Yasay

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella made the announcement after the CA unanimously rejected the approval of Yasay’s appointment over citizenship issues.

“He will hold the position until the President appoints a new Secretary. Usec Manalo is an excellent transition man, and has been on top of many crucial issues together with Atty. Perfecto Yasay,” Abella said in  statement.

Yasay, who on Wednesday finally admitted that he was granted US citizenship in 1986, was the first Duterte appointee rejected by the CA. IDL/rga

READ: Palace: Duterte to appoint acting DFA secretary on Thursday

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