DFA vetting next ambassador to US — Cayetano

Secretary of Foreign Affairs Senator Peter Cayetano. MALACAÑANG PHOTO

The Philippines will soon have a new ambassador to the US, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Thursday.

“Soon, soon, we will have (a Philippine ambassador). I was told we’re vetting one person. I can’t say yet until I submit the papers…” Cayetano said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel’s morning show, “Headstart.”

He could not confirm or deny if newspaper columnist Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez would be the next envoy to the US.

“I cannot say yet until I submit the papers but Babe is our special envoy and he continues to represent the country and continues to build bridges with the US so we’re not counting him out,” Cayetano said.

The secretary acknowledged that having no representatives to foreign countries was “bad” for the country.

“First we have to put our ambassadors,” Cayetano said. “Having said that, national treasures pa rin naman yung iba, yung sa past administration regardless if we agree with their views or not.”

Despite differences in opinion, the secretary expressed hope that Filipinos would come together to work for the best interest of the country.

“Hindi tayo pwedeng mag Duterte, anti-Duterte, opposition-administration,” said Cayetano, who was President Rodrigo Duterte’s running mate in the May 2016 elections./CBB/rga