Duterte names new envoys to Middle East, European, African countries

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former foreign affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez as the new Philippine ambassador to Turkey.

In his new post, Hernandez, who is the country’s former envoy to South Korea, will have jurisdiction over Georgia and Azerbaijan.

The President also appointed Edward Fereira as his special envoy to Kazakhstan for a six-month term.

Alex Chua was named ambassador to Kenya while Leah Ruiz, a former envoy to Lebanon, was also appointed ambassador to Poland.

Chua will have concurrent jurisdiction over Burundi, Comoros, Congo, Malawi, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan while Ruiz will have concurrent jurisdiction over Ukraine, Latvia and Lithuania.

The appointment papers of the new envoys were all signed on December 19. /je