Palace bares more appointments

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed Vice President Jejomar Binay as presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns, a Malacañang official said.

The position was also held by former Vice President Noli de Castro.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Mr. Aquino also nominated former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa as ambassador to Brunei.

Ochoa served as acting AFP chief when Mr. Aquino assumed office but was replaced by Gen. Ricardo David Jr.

In an interview over radio station dzRB, Valte also said Noe Wong was re-appointed ambassador to Cambodia.

The new commissioners of the Cebu Ports Authority have also been appointed. These are: former Maritime Industry Authority administrator Vicente Suazo Jr., representing the shipping sector; Benjamin Akol, also representing the shipping sector; Arturo Barrit, representing cargo handling; lawyer Joselito Quedaria; engineer Carlos Co, representing the business sector; and engineer Dennis Villamor, also representing the business sector.

As other career diplomats wait to be assigned, the longest-serving political ambassador in the country wants to be retained in her post.

Ambassador to Chile Maria Consuelo Puyat-Reyes, one of the political ambassadors whose tour of duty was extended during the first three months of the current administration, said she expressed to Mr. Aquino her desire to be retained in her post if she would be reappointed.

“I’m happy going back. I’m committed to the Chilean people who accepted me as though I’m one of them. It’s difficult to find an assignment where you will be adopted. And that’s what I feel about Chile,” Puyat-Reyes said in a press conference at the Chilean Embassy in Manila last Thursday.

“If you will move me to another country I would rather stay in Chile. I can assure you Chile will be well represented in what we do. We want mining to come to the Philippines. We need mining investors and we will do it together,” she added.

The Commission on Appointments (CA), meanwhile, confirmed the appointment of Monina Estrella Callangan-Rueca as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Hungary.

 Callangan-Rueda will also have jurisdiction over Bosnia and Herzegovinia, and Serbia and Montenegro.

The CA also confirmed the promotion of 59 other foreign affairs officers.

These are: Chief of Mission, Class I: Eduardo Pablo Maglaya, Virginia Benavidez, Luis Cruz, Romeo Manalo, Elizabeth Buensuceso.

Chief of Mission, Class II: Evelyn Austria-Garcia, Meynardo Montealegre, Ma. Teresa Taguiang, Constancio Vingno, Jr., Amelita Aquino, Ma. Lumen Isleta, Alex Chua, Joselito Jimeno, Jaime Victor Ledda, Leah Ruiz.

Career Minister: Giovanni Palec, Rosario Lemque, Ma. Josefina Ceballos, Arvin De Leon, Ma. Elena Algabre-Misrahi, Marian Jocelyn Tirol-Ignacio, Ezzedin Tago, Alan Deniega, Paul Raymund Cortes, Raly Tejada, Jose Cabrera III, Marshall Louis Alferez, Anne Louis, Zaldy Patron.

Foreign Service Officer, Class I: Felipe Cariño III, Renato Dueñas, Jr., Jose Jacob, Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Porfirio Mayo, Jr., Ivan Frank Olea, Raymund Toledo, Marie Yvette

Abalos, Iric Arribas, Victorio Mario Dimagiba, Jr., Emmanuel Fernandez, Romulo Victor Israel, Jr., Anthony Achilles Mandap, Ma. Antonina Mendoza-Oblena, Dinno Oblena, Enrique Voltaire Pingol, Rhenita Rodriguez, Rosanna Marie Villamor-Voogel, Patricia Barrera, Adrian Elmer Cruz, Ma. Angela Ponce.

Foreign Service Officer, Class II: Gerardo Abiog, Jabbar Adiong, Rodillo Catalan, Leilani Feliciano, Ma. Elena Cristina Maningat, Gonaranao Musor, Arnel Talisayon, Joseph Anthony Reyes.

Foreign Service Officer, Class III: Cassandra Karemaeh Sawadjaan.