The powerful Commission on Appointment (CA) on Wednesday gave its nod to the promotions of 86 senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The congressional body confirmed the promotions of the nine generals and 77 colonels after the CA national defense committee recommended their ad interim appointments for plenary approval.
Among those promoted was former Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, now a CA-confirmed Reserve Philippine Air Force colonel.
While his hands were full in his past positions, Sen. Christopher Go said Tugade was committed to serve as an Air Force reservist.
“He trained and did his thesis. I salute you, sir. Thank you for your wholehearted service,” Go said.
Tugade served as Transportation Secretary under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Go, vice chairman of the CA national defense committee stressed that Tugade was the main proponent of the “Build, Build, Build” program, a cornerstone project of the Duterte administration.
The CA also confirmed the nominations and ad interim appointments of seven career officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, chair of the CA foreign affairs committee, identified the diplomats as Henry Sicad Bensurto Jr. , chief of mission, Class I, as Ambassador to the Republic of Türkiye, with concurrent jurisdiction over Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan: and Raul Salavaria Hernandez , Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman; Carlos Deymek Sorreta as permanent representative of the Philippines to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; Renato Pedro Oabel Villa, as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Yemen; Paul Raymund Pasion Cortes, as Ambassador to Portugal with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Cabo Verde, the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, and the Republic of Angola; Josel Francisco Ignacio as Ambassador to the Republic of India, with concurrent jurisdiction
over the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal and Maria Angela Abrera Ponce as Ambassador to Malaysia.