Sponsorship Speech at the Commission on Appointments
by Senator Panfilo M. Lacson
Sept. 1, 2021

More at: https://pinglacson.net/2021/09/01/sponsorship-speech-for-20-dfa-officials-at-the-commission-on-appointments/

Mr. Chairman, distinguished members of the Commission on Appointments, this Representation as the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs presided over a public hearing this morning to deliberate on the nominations of eight (8) Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

The Committee likewise deliberated on the ad interim appointments of twelve (12) Senior Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs consisting of two (2) Senior Officials who are promoted to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class I; four (4) Senior Officials promoted to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class II; five (5) Senior Officials promoted to the rank of Career Minister; and, one (1) Senior Official promoted to the rank of Foreign Service Officer, Class I.

Your Committee, after deliberating on their qualifications and fitness during the public hearing, determined that they are fit and qualified to be in the posts where they are nominated and appointed, and therefore ruled to recommend to the plenary their appointments for the consent and approval of this body.

Mr. Chairman, may I request AMBASSADOR NORALYN JUBAIRA BAJA to rise to be recognized.

Our nominee has relevant diplomatic credentials, particularly at the Philippine embassies in Athens, Greece, and Berlin, as well as leadership posts at the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations (UNOIO) where she has been consistently commended for her meritorious accomplishments.

Mr. Chairman and distinguished colleagues, it is a great privilege and honor to recommend that this body give its consent to the nomination of AMBASSADOR NORALYN JUBAIRA BAJA as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of South Africa, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Botswana, Kingdom of Eswatini, Kingdom of Madagascar, Republic of Mauritius, Republic of Mozambique, Republic of Namibia, Republic of Zambia and Republic of Zimbabwe, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class I.

I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, this representation requests AMBASSADOR EDUARDO ECO KAPUNAN JR. to stand up and be recognized.

Our nominee is a pride of PMA's snappiest Matatag Class of 1971, the same PMA Class to which another one of your own, former Ambassador Marciano Paynor Jr., belongs. A Cavalier and Mistah or classmate, a friend, a venerable public servant with a colorful and challenging military career. His over 31 years of successful management and leadership experience and sound reputation to "get things done" in the face of challenging goals will be instrumental in carrying out his mandate as a diplomat.

To this end, Mr. Chairman and distinguished colleagues, it is my distinct privilege and honor to recommend that this body give its consent to the nomination of AMBASSADOR EDUARDO ECO KAPUNAN JR as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Germany, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class I.

I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, it is also my privilege to present AMBASSADOR JUNEVER M. MAHILUM- WEST.

Our subject nominee has ably represented our country in her foreign postings at the Philippine Embassies in Paris, France; Geneva, Switzerland; and Toronto, Canada. In her current designation as the Assistant Secretary of the Office of ASEAN Affairs, she has steered the Philippine participation in establishing mechanisms to support the ASEAN's collective response to COVID-19 and to assist in setting our COVID-19 priorities.

Mr. Chairman, it is my privilege and honor to recommend that this body give its consent to the nomination of AMBASSADOR JUNEVER M. MAHILUM-WEST as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the French Republic with concurrent jurisdiction over the Principality of Monaco, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class I.

I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, next in line is AMBASSADOR DEENA JOY DY AMATONG.

Ambassador Amatong entered the Foreign Service in 1997 and since then, has made significant strides to represent our country in her overseas posts at the Philippine Embassies in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Brussels, Belgium; Paris, France; and, Vienna, Austria.

Mr. Chairman and distinguished colleagues, it is my privilege and honor to recommend that this body give its consent to the nomination of AMBASSADOR DEENA JOY DY AMATONG as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Lao People's Democratic Republic, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class II.

I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, AMBASSADOR IGOR GARLIT BAILEN.

Our nominee wears many hats - so to speak - a lawyer, an educator, and a writer, who has also distinguished himself as the top-notcher of the Foreign Service Officer Examinations in 1996. He has taken important roles in diplomatic services such as in Paris, France as the Permanent Delegate of the Philippines to UNESCO in various capacities and as a Minister of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York, USA.

Mr. Chairman and distinguished colleagues, it is my privilege and honor to recommend that this body give its consent to the nomination of AMBASSADOR IGOR GARLIT BAILEN as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Russian Federation with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Belarus and Republic of Kazakhstan, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class II.

I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, AMBASSADOR ENRICO TRINIDAD FOS.

A lawyer and a diplomat by profession, Ambassador Fos has notable accomplishments as the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Migrant Workers Affairs, particularly in leading the repatriation of our distressed overseas Filipino workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He also has well-reputed foreign service during his stints at the Philippine Embassy/Mission in Washington DC, U.S.A. and Geneva, Switzerland.

Mr. Chairman and distinguished colleagues, it is my privilege and honor to recommend that this body give its consent to the nomination of AMBASSADOR ENRICO TRINIDAD FOS as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Norway with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Iceland, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class II.

I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, AMBASSADOR MARIE CHARLOTTE GOLIM TANG.

Our nominee has been well-recognized for her valuable service and accomplishments in foreign policy development, and in her overseas postings particularly in The Hague, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and in Guangzhou and Beijing at the People's Republic of China.

Mr. Chairman and distinguished colleagues, it is my privilege and honor to recommend that this body give its consent to the nomination of AMBASSADOR MARIE CHARLOTTE GOLIM TANG as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Kenya with concurrent jurisdiction over the Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Seychelles, Federal Republic of Somalia, Republic of South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Uganda, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of Burundi and Union of the Comoros, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class II.

I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, last but definitely not the least in our roster - AMBASSADOR MARIAN JOCELYN R. TIROL-IGNACIO.

Our nominee has competently served the Department of Foreign Affairs since 1996 and gained leadership roles at the offices of ASEAN Affairs and the United Nations and Other International Organizations. She also has relevant roles at the Philippine Embassies in Stockholm, Sweden, and Tokyo, Japan. During her stint, she puts a premium on important matters of biodiversity and climate change and digitalization and cyber security.

Mr. Chairman and distinguished colleagues, it is my privilege and honor to recommend that this body give its consent to the nomination of AMBASSADOR MARIAN JOCELYN R. TIROL-IGNACIO as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Negara Brunei Darussalam, with the rank and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class II.

I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I would also like to recommend to the Commission the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the following officials to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class I:

1. MR. NARCISO TEODORO CASTAÑEDA. I so move, Mr. Chairman
2. MS. GINA ALAGON JAMORALIN. I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I would also like to recommend to the Commission the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the following officials to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class II:

1. MS. NINA PADILLA CAINGLET. I so move, Mr. Chairman.
2. MS. MARIA THERESA STA. MARIA LAZARO. I so move, Mr. Chairman.
3. MR. PORFIRIO MARALIT MAYO JR. I so move, Mr. Chairman.
4. MR. IVAN FRANK MODEQUILLO OLEA. I so move, Mr. Chairman.

I would also like to recommend to the Commission the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the following officials to the rank of Career Ministers:

1. MR. ARVIC VENTURA AREVALO. I so move, Mr. Chairman.
2. MS. MELANIE RITA BALISI DIANO. I so move, Mr. Chairman.
3. MS. MARY JENNIFER DOMINGO DINGAL. I so move, Mr. Chairman.
4. MR. BRYAN DEXTER BURGOS LAO. I so move, Mr. Chairman.
5. MS. LEAH VICTORIA CARADA RODRIGUEZ. I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, I recommend the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of MS. RACHEL ANNE LINDAIN ORONCE to the rank of Foreign Service Officers, Class I. I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Maraming salamat po, Ginoong Chairman.

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