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MANILA, Philippines -- Malacañang has appointed a former chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines as the new ambassador to Iran, a lawmaker at the House of Representatives announced Friday.
Retired AFP chief General Generoso Senga’s nomination papers had just been received by the Commission on Appointments secretariat, said Cebu Representative Eduardo Gullas, head of the House contingent to the powerful commission.
Senga, 58, served as AFP chief from Aug. 15, 2005 to July 24, 2006.
As ambassador, Gullas said Senga would also have concurrent jurisdiction over Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, both former Soviet republics situated north of Iran and Afghanistan.
There are more than 1,200 Filipino workers in Iran, most of them employed in oil and other energy-related projects.
Aside from Senga, Malacañang has also endorsed to the Commission on Appointments the nomination papers of Elizabeth Buensuceso as the new ambassador to Norway with jurisdiction over Denmark and Iceland; and Jocelyn Garcia as the new ambassador to Venezuela, also with jurisdiction over Trinidad and Tobago.
There are now 86 officials -- 29 new appointees and 57 re-appointees -- for confirmation in the commission, Gullas said.
Of the 86, Gullas said, 56 were senior military officers while 24 were high-ranking diplomatic officials, including eight new ambassadors.
