Jose leaves for Kuala Lumpur

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Charles Jose yesterday left for Kuala Lumpur to begin his tour of duty as Philippine ambassador to Malaysia. 

Jose, who has served as DFA spokesman since the previous administration, was appointed ambassador to Malaysia by President Duterte and confirmed by the Commission on Appointments in October last year. 

In a statement, the DFA said career diplomat Robespierre Bolivar will take over as acting spokesman. 

He will concurrently serve as officer-in-charge of the Office of Undersecretary for Policy, which was previously headed by acting DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo.

A graduate of the University of the Philippines, Bolivar joined the DFA as a junior foreign service officer in the 1990s, handling the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and ASEAN Regional Forum-related matters. 

Bolivar also served as Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General at the Philippine Mission to the European Union and Philippine embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg, based in Brussels.