Duterte appoints envoys to Mexico, New Zealand, WTO

President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed the new ambassadors to Mexico and New Zealand and the Philippines’ permanent representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In a set of appointment papers dated November 27 and released to the public Tuesday, Duterte appointed Demetrio Tuason as ambassador to Mexico, with concurrent jurisdiction over Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Dominican Republic, and Cuba.

Tuason is the chairman emeritus of firearms manufacturing company Armscor.

Duterte also appointed Jesus Domingo as ambassador to New Zealand with concurrent jurisdiction over Pacific island countries Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa.

The President has also nominated Ateneo professor Manuel Antonio J. Teehankee as Permanent Representative to the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland. He held the same position from 2008 to 2010.

Teehankee currently serves as a Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary. He has also served as undersecretary of the Department of Justice from 2001 to 2004.

Their appointment is subject to the confirmation of the Commission on Appointments. /cbb