President Rodrigo Duterte has designated Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo the Acting Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
This comes, following the Commission of Appointment’s rejection of the nomination of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said, Manalo is an excellent transition man and he has been on top of many crucial issues, together with Yasay.
Manalo had served as Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Belgium.
He had also been the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva and PH Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in New York.
He played a major role in securing the Philippines’ chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Manalo may hold the cabinet position until May.
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano may be named DFA secretary in June, when the ban for the appointment of losing candidates in the 2016 elections ends.
