President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is retaining veteran diplomat Philippe Jones Lhuillier as the country's ambassador to Spain.
Marcos swore in Lhuillier as the Philippines' Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Spain on Wednesday, July 20.
In a Facebook post, the President said he recognizes the excellent performance of Lhuillier so he is keeping him as the country's envoy to Spain.
"Batid natin ang galing ni G. Philippe Lhuillier kung kaya’t siya ay muli nating itinalaga sa posisyong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary para sa bansang Spain (We recognize the excellence of Mr. Philippe Lhuillier so we are designating him once again to the position of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary para to Spain)," Marcos said on Thursday, July 21.
"Tiyak kong kanyang gagampanan ng buong puso at igugugol ang kanyang husay para sa bansa (I am confident that he will put his whole heart and talent in doing his role for the country)," he added.
Lhuiller has also served as Philippine Ambassador to Italy from 1999 to 2010 and Portugal from 2012 to 2016 before being appointed as the country's envoy to Spain in 2017.
He is a graduate of De LaSalle University - Manila and speaks fluent Spanish and French.
Lhuillier was born on July 23, 1945 to parents Henry Lhuillier, a former French Honorary Consul for 30 years and Angelita Escaño Jones, former President of Alliance Francaise in Cebu. His late father was the founder of Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop in the Philippines