PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has nominated a former political envoy and a businessman to serve as the country’s new ambassadors to the United Kingdom and Brunei, replacing career diplomats whose tours of duty haven’t ended in those countries, an online report said Sunday.
The Commission on Appointments website said Antonio Lagdameo, who previously served as ambassador to Spain and the UK under then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, will be returning as Manila’s envoy to London.
It also showed that businessman James Lao has also been recommended for the Brunei post.
Their appointments have already been submitted for confirmation to the bicameral Commission on Appointments, a legislative body that approves assignments and promotions of the military, government and career officials, and political appointees.
The appointments were received by the commission on Aug. 23, its website said.
An online report from GMA News Online said the posts given to Lagdameo and Lao are currently occupied by career diplomats—Evan Garcia in London and Meynard Montealegre in Brunei, whose tours of duty have not run out.
Garcia, former Foreign undersecretary for policy, was assigned to London during former President Benigno Aquino III’s time only in May.
Montealegre still has one more year to go before he is recalled to the Home Office in Manila.
Removing them from their posts prematurely is considered by some diplomats as impractical and costly since they would have to be relocated to new posts, the sources said.
Garcia was removed from the post in favor of Lagdameo since he has not yet presented his credentials to Queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace in London, the report said.
According to diplomatic protocol, ambassadors cannot be officially recognized as their country’s representative until their credentials have been formally presented in person and accepted by the host government.
It remains unclear where Garcia and Montealegre would be assigned.
Philippine presidents have the privilege to assign diplomatic posts to non-career individuals as long as the designations will not exceed the number of appointees mandated by law or outnumber career Foreign Service diplomats.
Republic Act No. 7157 or the Philippine Foreign Service Act allots 51 percent of diplomatic positions to career officers and 49 percent to political appointees.
On the other hand, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar said the information about the nominations of Lagdameo and Lao needs to be verified first, as he could not confirm it yet.
Also on Saturday, the Department of Transportation said the head of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has resigned.
A report from radio dzBB said CAAP Director General Antonio Buendia Jr. submitted his resignation Aug. 19.
The report said Buendia has been replaced, in an acting capacity, by CAAP Deputy Director for Operations Jim Sydiongco.
The report said Buendia did not cite any reason for his resignation.
Buendia was appointed to the post only last month, replacing William Hotchkiss.
Buendia served as president of aviation firms Asian Spirit and Aerospace Development Corp. before the CAAP appointment.