The powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, August 9, confirmed the appointments of three Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) envoys.
Confirmed during a plenary session presided by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, concurrent CA chairman, were:
- Philippe Jones Lhuillier as ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain with concurrent jurisdiction over the principality of Andorra;
- Mersole Jala Mellejor as ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria with concurrent jurisdiction over 12 other counties in the western Africa. He is with the DFA past 21 years
- Raquel Rayel Solano, who was promoted as Chief of Mission Class II.
All three were recommended for confirmation by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, chairman of the CA foreign affairs committee.
Congressman Ramon Juico, CA vice chairman, supported the confirmation of the appointments of the three because they have proved to be “exemplary professionals in their fields.”
Lhuillier was confirmed as Ambassador to Spain in 2016, covering two administrations, but needed a fresh confirmation.
Zubiri noted Lhuillier is the longest foreign service officer at the DFA with 23 years in service.
He said his original appointment papers cited "Canary Islands" as under his jurisdiction but his actual jurisdiction covers the principality of Andorra.