PRRD names ex-defense chief as special envoy to EU

Avelino Cruz has been named Special Envoy of the President to the European Union (EU) (ShutterStock)

MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday released a new set of appointees, among them former defense secretary Avelino Cruz, who has been named Special Envoy of the President to the European Union (EU).

President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed the appointment paper of Cruz on January 21 but it was released to the media on Wednesday.

Cruz served as defense chief under the administration of former president and now House of Representatives Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He will serve as Duterte’s special envoy to EU from Jan. 1, 2019 to Dec. 31, 2019.

Duterte has also nominated Leo Herrera-Lim and Christopher B.

Montero as ambassadors to Denmark and Brunei Darussalam, respectively, while Cook Islands has been added as concurrent jurisdiction of Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo.

Domingo has also concurrent jurisdiction over Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa.

Meanwhile, Duterte named multi-awarded furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue as member of the Design Advisory Council of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Cobonpue has been designated to represent the private sector in the DTI’s Design Advisory Council.

According to his website, Cobonpue hailed from Cebu and earned expertise and awards internationally in the field of furniture design.

Among his awards are five Japan Good Design Awards, the grand prize at the Singapore International Design Competition, the Design for Asia Award of Hong Kong, the American Society of Interior Design Top Pick selection, and the French Coup de Coeur award.

Malacañang also announced Goddes Hope Libiran and Dakila Elteen Napao as assistant secretaries of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Department of Finance (DOF), respectively.

Other presidential appointees announced on Wednesday are:
• Joey Bermudez – member, Overseas Filipino Bank Board of Directors
• Maria Asuncion Herrera Cruzada – DTI Director IV; Lovely Krisha Mendiola – DOTr Director IV
• Christine June Cariño – Department of National Defense (DND) Director IV
• Paula Paz Sydiongco – Department of Health (DOH) Director III
• Lilia Estillore – Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Director III
• Estrella Uy-Pahalla – DOLE Director III
• Leo Cipriano Urbiztondo Jr. – Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Director III
• Paulette Gevera – DICT Director III
• Leo Ugto – DICT Director III
• Elenida del Rosario-Basug – Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Director III
• Donna Lynn Caparas – National Police Commission Director II
• Henry Bensurto Jr. – Department of Foreign Affairs ad interim Chief of Mission
• Meilou Macabare – DTI Provincial Trade and Industry Officer.