PRESIDENT Marcos has nominated seven new Philippine ambassadors, according to Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, Assistant Minority Leader of the Commission on Appointments (CA).
“The President issued the nominations on June 2, and all were formally received by the Commission on the same day,” Pimentel said in a statement on Wednesday.
The nominees were Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq as permanent representative to the ASEAN, Bernadette Therese Fernandez as ambassador to South Korea; Maria Teresa Almojuela as envoy to Germany, Alan Deniega, as envoy to Poland with concurrent jurisdiction over Lithuania and Ukraine, Gines Jaime Ricardo Gallaga as chief diplomat to Bahrain, Marlowe Miranda as ambassador to Lebanon, and Arvin De Leon as ambassador to Mexico with concurrent jurisdiction over Cuba and the Dominican Republic, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.
Pimentel pointed out that unlike ad interim appointments which take effect immediately pending CA confirmation, the diplomat-nominees cannot assume their posts unless they have secured the CA’s approval.
He also explained that both the assignment of ambassadors and promotion in rank of senior foreign service officers require CA consent.
The Constitution mandates the 25-member CA to validate the competence, integrity, and fitness of key presidential appointees, with the authority to either confirm or reject them.
“Confirmation hearings serve as an important safeguard, ensuring proper oversight of the President’s power to appoint officials to critical diplomatic posts,” Pimentel said.
