Duterte names special envoys to Japan, China

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in Taguig City on October 16, 2019. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has named his two special envoys to Japan and China who are tasked to negotiate with the Asian nations in terms of trade and investments.

Former House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was tapped as the President’s special envoy to Japan for trade and market access, based on the list of presidential appointees released by the Palace on Wednesday.

Apart from Belmonte, the Chief Executive also designated Jaime Cruz as his special envoy to China for trade and investments.

Duterte signed Belmonte and Cruz’s appointment papers on October 15.

The President also renewed the ad interim appointments of Wendel Avisado and William Dar as respective heads of Budget and Agriculture departments.

The two Cabinet secretaries’ appointment papers were signed on October 11.

Avisado and Dar, who both assumed the Cabinet posts in August this year, failed to secure the nod of the Commission on Appointments (CA) before the 18th Congress went on recess on October 5.

According to CA rules, a presidential appointee is deemed bypassed if his or her appointment is not acted upon by the commission when Congress adjourns the session.

Another presidential appointee was Pedro Miguel Santos, who was appointed as Director III of the Presidential Communications Operations Office on October 15.

Duterte also picked Joel Abutal as commodore of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy on October 10.

On September 17, Golda Margareth Arge was named board member of the UCPB General Insurance Company Inc.