Pres. Duterte receives credentials of 3 new envoys to PH

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte receives the credentials of Republic of Korea Ambassador-Designate to the Philippines Han Dong-Man at the Malacañan Palace on January 17, 2018. (Photo by King Rodriguez/Presidential Photo)

MANILA — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, January 17, welcomed the newly appointed Ambassadors to the Philippines of South Korea, Tanzania, and Serbia and received their credentials at the Malacañang Palace.

His Excellency Han Dong-Man, who previously served as South Korea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Director-General for International Economic Affairs, is the new envoy of South Korea to the Philippines.

Ambassador Han was joined by his spouse Jang Sookyung, Minister and Consul General Kwon Won-Jik, Minister Counsellors Park Younghyo and Kyun Jongho, First Secretary Song Areum, and Second Secretary Lim Jeongsub.

Ambassador Han has more than 20 years of experience in representing Korea in the areas of policy planning, trade issues, and public relations. He has held executive positions in the Korean Embassy in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, and Algeria.

President Duterte also received the credentials of Tanzania’s new Ambassador to the Philippines, Ramadhani Kitwana-Dau. Before his new post as Ambassador to the Philippines, Dau was Tanzania’s envoy to Malaysia and was Tanzania’s National Social Security Fund director general.

Serbia, meanwhile, assigned Slobodan Marinkovic as its new envoy. Prior to his designation here, Marinkovic served as Ambassador to Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, and Singapore.

He also served as the Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to ASEAN. Marinkovic also worked as medical professor at Evropski Univerzitet in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was with his wife Mira, and Serbia’s Honorary Consul Joaquin Jack Rodriguez during the presentation of credentials.

All three new envoys expressed their positive outlook towards the Philippines and told President Duterte that they are willing to work with the Philippine government for stronger ties.

President Duterte said that South Korea, Tanzania and Serbia are welcomed as good allies of the country.

He also noted that the Philippines is open to mutual and good working bilateral relations with the three countries. The President was joined by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Prior to the presentation of their credentials to the President, the three new ambassadors were accorded with arrival honors at the Kalayaan Grounds followed by the signing of the Guest Book at the President’s Hall Ante Room.