The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday announced that a former naval and Coast Guard officer who later transitioned into a diplomatic role will serve as the new spokesperson for maritime issues.
Rogelio Villanueva, the DFA’s acting deputy assistant secretary, has been officially appointed as spokesperson on maritime issues.
The appointment comes on the heels of recent public exchanges between Chinese diplomats and Philippine legislators, aimed at ensuring a unified government response to issues concerning the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.
Villanueva previously served at the Philippine Embassy in Lisbon as third secretary and vice consul from 2011 to 2014, and later as consul at the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver from 2014 to 2017.
Most recently, he was assigned to the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt, where he served as consul and deputy consul general from 2019 to 2025 before his recall to the Home Office in January 2025.
Villanueva graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1994 and served in both the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard before joining the Foreign Service in 2008. He also holds a master’s degree in maritime administration from the World Maritime University.
In January, the DFA said it made “firm representations” to the Chinese ambassador and embassy over concerns regarding escalating public exchanges between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine legislators.
The department reiterated its commitment to supporting Philippine officials in the lawful defense of the country’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction.
