Duterte to DFA Sec. Teodoro Locsin: 'Be truthful to foreign leaders'

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has ordered newly appointed Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to be truthful and straight to the point when speaking with foreign leaders.

Locsin took his oath before Duterte on Wednesday, replacing Alan Cayetano, who is running for Congress to represent the first district of Taguig in next year’s elections.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo yesterday said the President told Locsin that he appoints members of the Cabinet “on the basis of truth and competence.” 

“I think what President Duterte means is that every Cabinet member should be like him, a straightforward person, he tells exactly what he feels when he meets with foreign leaders,” Panelo said.

“The President is honest with his position. He calls a spade a spade. No pretensions. Always straight to the point without blinking an eye,” he added. 

Panelo said Duterte was not implying that previous foreign affairs secretaries lied while in office. 

Pressed whether Duterte issued a directive related to foreign policy, Panelo said, “With respect to the foreign policy, I think the new DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) secretary knows exactly the marching orders of the President.” 

“There has been no change from the time that secretaries have been appointed to the DFA from former secretary (Perfecto) Yasay to secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and to him,” he added. 

Locsin, a journalist and former lawmaker, served as the Philippines’ representative to the United Nations before being appointed foreign affairs chief.