Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel (Facebook)

The bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) will deliberate on the nominations and promotions of seven ambassadors and 85 senior military officers on Wednesday, May 31, Surgao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel bared.

Pimentel, CA assistant minority leader and senior member of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), named the seven envoys awaiting confirmation as follows:

-Henry Bensurto Jr., as ambassador to Turkey, with concurrent jurisdiction over Georgia and Azerbaijan;

-Raul 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 (UN) in Geneva, Switzerland; and

-Renato Pedro Villa, as ambassador to Saudi Arabia, with concurrent jurisdiction over Yemen.

Incidentally, May 31 is the last session date of the first regular session in the current 19th Congress. After Wednesday, Congress will go on a two-month recess.

Pimentel said the diplomats will be screened by the CA’s Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Senator Jinggoy Estrada.

Meanwhile, Pimentel said 85 senior military officers led by Philippine Army Major Generals Ferdinand Barandon and Fernando Reyeg are also awaiting confirmation of their ad interim appointments.

They will be vetted by the CA’s Committee on National Defense chaired by Camiguin lone district Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo.