Ched Rick Gatchalian

Article (news)

CA confirms appointments of DFA, AFP officials

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Commission on Appointments (CA) gave its consent to the nominations and confirmed the ad interim appointments of 24 foreign service officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).Those confirmed from the DFA included former Secretary Enrique Manalo who has been appointed as the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN).  Prior to being confirmed in the CA plenary, Manalo was questioned in the CA Committee on Foreign Affairs by Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, on what he plans to do to build support for the cause of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.According to Manalo, he will continue pursuing activities that the government has done in the past years.“To promote not only the 2016 Arbitral Award, but to promote Philippine interest in connection with the West Philippine Sea,” Manalo said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/13/dfa-ph-us-relationship-can-withstand-any-change-in-us-admin-1705">DFA: PH-US relationship can withstand any change in US admin</a></div>“One of the main areas that we intend to pursue and continue pursuing, of course, is to promote greater adherence among countries to the importance of maintaining a rules based order and the importance of adherence to international law. And we have done this through various means not only through statements but even through coordinating with other countries,” he explained.Another plan is to have a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Maritime Cooperation and Security by the end of September.“The aim is to see whether we can attract countries from the South that is mainly from Africa and also from Latin America to speak out more openly on the importance of maritime cooperation, maritime security and how we can work together as the international community,” Manalo mentioned. Senator Rodante Marcoleta, meanwhile, asked Manalo to study whether the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte is legal.“In my humble, personal view, the arrest, the detention and the potential prosecution of former President Duterte in the Hague is illegal. I’m basing my opinion within the limits and context of the Rome Statute,” Marcoleta remarked.Manalo said he will take Marcoleta’s points to heart.“The Philippines is not a member of the ICC so we actually have no official contact with the ICC. But nevertheless, the Philippines will always remain committed to all the human rights conventions and agreements that we are parties to. We will also follow our own national domestic law and it is in that context that we will work to see how we can promote the various commitments that all countries have to human rights conventions,” Manalo explained.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/1/ukraine-vows-full-backing-for-philippines-un-security-council-bid-1900">Ukraine vows full backing for Philippines&#x27; UN Security Council bid</a></div>As for the Philippines’ bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2027-2028, Manalo said the chances are good.“I think our chances are good. And we have been campaigning really quite dexterously especially in the past couple of years. Our campaign has been at various levels when I was Secretary with my counterparts,” Manalo said. “In fact the President is scheduled to go to the UN this month also to lobby.”Kyrgyzstan is also vying for the seat.<div> </div>The CA also gave its consent for the nomination of the following DFA foreign service officials:Francisco Noel Fernandez  Patrick John Hilado Jaime Ramon Ascalon, Jr. Gines Jaime Gallaga Pablito Mendoza Marlowe Miranda Noel Novicio<div> </div>Meanwhile, the ad interim appointments of the following were confirmed:Raymond BalatbatGerardo AbiogFelipe Cariño IIIMaria Anna De Vera-SchinaziGonaranao Musor Dinno Oblena Jay Francis Alcantara Shirley Flores-ImperialRommel Romato Flaureen DacanayLV De GuzmanVon Ryan Pangwi Mary Grace PerpetuaMajella Cristy Pua-DiezmosVida Soraya Verzosa Ralph Jacob Viloria<div> </div><div>NATIONAL DEFENSE</div>The CA also confirmed the ad interim appointments of 20 generals, flag officers, and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), namely:Lt. Gen. Cerilo Balaoro, Jr. Maj. Gen. Oliver Maquiling Maj. Gen. Aldwine Almase Maj. Gen. Vicente Blanco IIIMaj. Gen. Gerold GaganMaj. Gen. Ronald Alcudia Maj. Gen. Efren MoradosBrig. Gen. Enriqueto Deocadez, Jr. Brig. Gen. Luisito Angeles, Jr. Brig. Gen. Pedro Agapito Brig. Gen. Apollo Lamaton Brig. Gen. Joel SobreraBrig. Gen. Ricnon CarolasanBrig. Gen. Rhoderick Parallag Brig. Gen. Rhenante Salvador Commodore Joel Tamayo Col. Arnold PanaliganCol. Antonio Yago Col. Roy Philip AguhobCapt. Medardo Deacosta, Jr.

The Commission on Appointments (CA) gave its consent to the nominations and confirmed the ad interim appointments of 24 foreign service officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The Commission on Appointments (CA) gave its consent to the nominations and confirmed the ad interim appointments of 24 foreign service officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).