President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and businessman Jaime Cruz as his envoy to Japan and China, respectively.
In the list of presidential appointees released by the Palace Wednesday, Belmonte was named as special envoy to Japan for trade and market access.
Cruz will serve as the President’s envoy to China for trade and investments.
Belmonte served as House Speaker in 2001 and from 2010 to 2016. He also became Quezon City Mayor from 2001 to 2010.
In 2018, he resigned from the Liberal Party.
Cruz, on one hand, is a board member of the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc., which owns and operates the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center.
He is also the chief executive officer of the JTC Group of Companies, owner of Dohtonbori restaurant.