PRESIDENT Duterte on January 9 met with the newly appointed ambassadors to the Philippines of Timor Leste, Paraguay, Estonia and Malta, then received their credentials at the Malacañan Palace.
The President first received the credentials of Jose Gaspar dos Reis Correia Piedade, the new ambassador of Timor Leste to the Philippines.
Before assuming his new post, Piedade served as his country’s director general of the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communication for 15 years.
Duterte also received the credentials of Paraguay’s new Ambassador to the Philippines Irineo Raul Silvero Silvagni, who previously served as his country’s ambassador to the Republic of Korea.
Meanwhile, Estonia appointed Jaak Lensment as its new ambassador to the Philippines. Prior to his appointment, he served as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Estonian Embassy.
Completing the roster of new ambassadors is His Excellency John Joseph Aquilina of Malta. He previously worked as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of Malta to China.
All four new envoys expressed high hopes in forging a good working relationship with the government of the Republic of the Philippines.
Duterte extended his expectation that the good relationship of the Philippines with these countries will continue.
Meanwhile, the President bestowed the Order of Sikatuna with the Rank of Grand Cross (Datu)-Gold Distinction on South Korea’s Ambassador to the Philippines Kim Jae-shin during a farewell call in Malacañang on January 8 as the former thanked the envoy for his contributions in forging stronger Philippine-South Korea relations.
Duterte said South Korea and the Philippines have been friends for a long time and expressed his gratitude to one of Asia’s economic powerhouses for its continuing assistance to the country.
Kim was specifically awarded the Order of Sikatuna for his significant role in strengthening and deepening relations between the two countries.
The diplomat was also cited for facilitating South Korea’s timely assistance for the victims of the conflict in Marawi City, as well as assisting cooperation agreements and projects supporting the Philippines.
Kim was also commended for his efforts to bring the people of the Philippines and South Korea closer.
The Order of Sikatuna is an order of diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines.
It is bestowed to diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous service in fostering, developing, and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines, or upon personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs both in the home office and in the foreign service.
Together with the Philippine Legion of Honor and the Order of Lakandula, the Order of Sikatuna is one of the three senior honors of the Republic.
Kim, who served in the country for less than three years, will return to South Korea after his tenure in the Philippines.
Present during the simple ceremony were Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Special Assistant to the President Christopher T. Go and Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Millicent Cruz-Paredes.
Kim’s spouse Madame Lee Jongmin, as well as Embassy Ministers-Counselor Park Young-hyo and Song Areum accompanied him.
On January 9 Duterte also met with the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee member Meng Xiangfeng, where, during the meet-and-greet at Malacañang, he reiterated “our desire and wish of the Filipino people that we make our bond stronger” and further noted that the bond is “improving every day.”
Other CPC members who were present during the meeting were Bureau One International Department Director General Yuan Zhibing, Personnel Bureau Division Chief Lin Zhi and Division Chief Du Dingding. Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua and Embassy of China Counselor Sun Yi were also present during the meeting.
According to the President, the CPC members visited the country upon the invitation of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), his political party.
Among the Philippine officials present were Senate President Aquilino L. Pimentel III and Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda also paid a courtesy call on the President at Malacañang and expressed her gratitude to Duterte for taking time to meet her despite the President’s busy schedule.
Also present during the said meeting were Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda, Global Strategy Bureau Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications Director General Kenichi Imabayashi, as well as International Cooperation Division Director Kazuaki Omori and Embassy of Japan Deputy Chief of Mission Takehiro Kano.
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar, Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr. and Department of Information and Communications Technology Undersecretary Eliseo M. Rio Jr. were among the Philippine officials present during the courtesy call.
PNA/PND
Image credits: Photo by Rey Baniquet, Rolando Mailo and Yancy Lim/Presidential Photo