It looks like we have a new Philippine Ambassador to Thailand pending the confirmation of the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) scheduled on March 11.
News on Inquirer.net and Rappler shared stories of Assistant Secretary Millicent Cruz-Paredes as the newly-appointed Ambassador.
The CA committee on foreign affairs pointed on Wednesday, March 4, deferred the appointment of Millicent Cruz Paredes, the Philippine ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, Rappler reported.
Paredes was appointed to two posts:
- Chief of Mission I as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission in Asia Pacific
- Chief Mission II as the Philippine ambassador to Thailand
Senator Panfilo Lacson and San Juan Representative Ronaldo Zamora were puzzled how Paredes would get confirmation since her appointment papers showed she was appointed to the ranks of Chief of Mission 1 and 2, Inquirer reported.
Aside from her appointment to the rank of Chief of Mission 1, Paredes was also nominated to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class II as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
“I have no problem about her patriotism, her qualifications, your background is completely qualified… But I still want to know what rank she is being appointed to? Is she being appointed to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class 1 or Chief of Mission, Class 2?,” Zamora quoted in a separate article on Inquirer.
According to various online sources, newly-appointed Ambassador Millicent Cruz-Paredes is the Chief Coordinator of the Office of the Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs. She has also served as Assistant Secretary of the Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC).
The CA panel will consider her confirmation in its next hearing slated on March 11.
Former Ambassador Mary Jo Bernardo-Aragon retired on December 23, 2019 after 40 years of government and foreign service.
Photos: Rappler, Phnom Penh Post, BusinessMirror, PNA