MANILA, Philippines — The congressional Commission on Appointments on Wednesday has confirmed the ad interim appointment of Teodoro Locsin Jr. as secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson was the first to recommend the approval of Locsin's appointment during the latter's confirmation hearing.
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"As Secretary of Foreign Affairs, we will agree that he will bring his own brand of diplomacy — one that represents the true value of an independent foreign policy enshrined in our constitution," Lacson told the panel.
The senator also cited Locsin's three decades of experience in journalism, as well as his legal education at the Ateneo de Manila University and Harvard Law School.
"If he pulls off and succeeds in the present endeavours which he is currently occupied with... We may now be confirming a future president of the Republic of the Philippines," Lacson added.
Rep. Ronaldo Zamora (San Juan City) also endorsed the appointment of Locsin, saying that the latter has raised diplomacy into an "art form."
The appointment of 47 other senior officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs were also confirmed.
In his confirmation hearing, Locsin answered questions in relation to the Philippines' withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Duterte administration's so-called independent foreign policy.
"Withdrawing from the ICC does not legitimize any violation of human rights. It was far from being a knee-jerk reaction," Locsin told the panel.
Defending Duterte's war on drugs, Locsin said the campaign is a "legitimate war" against criminal syndicates.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros also asked Locsin whether the administration's policy toward China was "simply switching answers" to which the DFA chief answered, "No, far from that."
"It is not true that we would waive this right. We do not waive a single inch of what is given to us," Locsin said, recalling to his first meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Locsin was referring to the country's victory from the July 2016 ruling of a United Nations-backed tribunal that invalidated Beijing's expansive claims over the South China Sea.