7 new ambassadors named

MANILA, Philippines – President Arroyo has appointed seven new ambassadors to Spain, the United Kingdom, the Vatican, the Netherlands, Finland, Brazil and Timor-Leste, the head of the House contingent to the Commission on Appointments (CA) disclosed yesterday.

Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas, head of the 12-member House contingent to the bicameral CA, said they have already received the nomination papers of the new batch of ambassadors designated by the Palace.

“We just received the nomination papers of Ana Ines de Sequera-Ugarte as the new ambassador to Spain and Andorra replacing Antonio Manuel Lagdameo who has been designated as ambassador to the UK and Northern Ireland,” he said.

De Sequera-Ugarte is the widow of Aboitiz scion and advertising executive Iñaki Ugarte.

Lagdameo replaces former finance secretary Edgardo Espiritu, who was appointed ambassador to the Court of St. James in 2003. The CA confirmed Lagdameo as ambassador to Madrid in June 2008.

The new ambassadors include Mercedes Arrastia-Tuason, to the Holy See and Malta; Cardozo Luna, to the Netherlands; Evan Garcia, to Brazil, Colombia, Guyana and Surinam; Ma. Angelina Sta. Catalina, to Finland; and Ma. Aniceta Aileen Bugarin, to Timor-Leste.

Arrastia-Tuason takes the place of Cristina Castañer Ponce Enrile, wife of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. She relinquished her post last month due to health reasons.

Ms. Enrile obtained the CA’s consent as ambassador to the Vatican in June last year.

Gullas said the seven new nominees will join three other ambassadors pending CA confirmation: former Armed Forces chief of staff retired Gen. Alexander Yano, to Brunei; Alejandro del Rosario, to Poland; and Ma. Corazon Yap-Buhain, to Bahrain.