Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. (Photo from the Senate Facebook account)
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian hailed on Friday the appointment of Teodoro “Teddy Boy” Locsin Jr. as the new Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary, saying he had a “good track record in public service.”
“Ambassador Locsin has a good track record in public service, including his current stint as Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations – one of our country’s most prestigious and demanding diplomatic postings,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
Gatchalian added that Locsin’s “character” would be fitted for the international relations and diplomatic talks.
“He speaks his mind passionately and tells it like it is, even if it’s something that many people might not want to hear. His character is well suited for the messy arena of international relations, where diplomatic double-talk often gets in the way of achieving real progress among the international community of nations,” he said.
The senator hoped that Locsin would improve diplomatic relations with the country’s allies.
“I am hoping that Ambassador Locsin will be able to cut through the diplomatic double-talk in order to foster deeper, more meaningful ties with our allies and further advance Philippine interests across the globe,” he said.
Locsin, former Philippine representative to the United Nations, announced on Twitter that he accepted President Rodrigo Duterte’s offer on the DFA post. He replaced outgoing DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano who will run for Congress as Taguig representative in the 2019 elections. /jpv
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