The powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) will deliberate on the nominations and promotions of seven ambassadors and 85 senior military officers on Wednesday, May 31.
Surigao del Sur Congressman Johnny Pimentel, CA assistant minority leader, named the seven envoys awaiting confirmation as follows:
Henry Bensurto Jr., as Ambassador to Turkey, with concurrent jurisdiction over Georgia and Azerbaijan;
Paul Raymund Cortes, as Ambassador to Portugal, with concurrent jurisdiction over Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe, and Angola;
Raul Hernandez, as Ambassador to Oman;
Josel Ignacio, as Ambassador to India, with concurrent jurisdiction over Nepal;
Maria Angela Ponce, as Ambassador to Malaysia;
Carlos Sorreta, as Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; and
Renato Pedro Villa, as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, with concurrent jurisdiction over Yemen.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) envoys will be screened by the CA’s Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Senator Jose "Jinggoy" Ejercito Estrada.
Meanwhile, Pimentel said 85 senior military officers led by Philippine Army Major Generals Ferdinand Barandon and Fernando Reyes are also awaiting confirmation of their ad interim appointments.
They will be screened by the CA’s committee on national defense chaired by Camiguin Representative Jurdin Jesus Romualdo.
Pimentel said the CA chaired by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has scheduled a caucus and a plenary session on Wednesday, in anticipation of the recommendations from the Estrada and Romualdo committees.