Cabrera was a journalist for many years before he joined the government. He served as press secretary to both ousted President Joseph Estrada and President Arroyo. Before his foreign service appointment, he headed Cocolife, one of several sequestered companies funded by billions of pesos in coconut levy money.
The CA also approved the nomination of former Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Lauro Baja as permanent representative to the United Nations. He was recommended to the post by his boss, Secretary Blas Ople.
Others whose appointments were approved were Ambassadors Jose Lino Guerrero Jr. (Bangladesh with jurisdiction over Sri Lanka and the Maldives), Eduardo Pablo Maglaya (Kingdom of Bahrain), Antonio Rodriguez (Thailand and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), and Bayani Mangibin (Kuwait).
Nine military officers won the CA’s go-signal for their promotions. They are Cristolito Balaoing and Edilberto Adan (to the rank of major general); Ernesto de Leon (to rear admiral), Alphonsus Crucero, Eusebio Ramos and Claudio Estalilla (to brigadier general); and Anselmo Legaspi, Gilmer Batestil and Margarito Sanches Jr. (to commodore). – Jess Diaz