Press Release 089-03
19 March 2003
4
NEW PHILIPPINE AMBASSADORS GET CA NOD
The appointments of four new Ambassadors, career Foreign Service Officers
all, were given confirmation by the bicameral Commission on Appointments this
afternoon at its last plenary session before the Holy Week break.
Confirmed were Ambassadors Romualdo A. Ong (for Malaysia), Minerva Jean
A. Falcon (Germany), Victoria S. Bataclan, (Sweden, with concurrent accreditation
to Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway) and Victoriano
M. Lecaros (Vietnam).
Each of these lifelong diplomats has at least 20 years of service at home
and overseas. Ambassador Ong has served as ambassador to Australia,
Russia, China and is currently the Head of the DFA’s Foreign Service Institute.
Ambassador Falcon was once ambassador to Turkey and Consul General in Honolulu,
Hawaii and currently serves as Chargé d’Affaires in Berlin.
Ambassador Bataclan has served in Geneva, Vienna and is the country’s leading
exponent, as Philippine Consul General in Hong Kong, in helping HK-based Filipina
domestic helpers obtain redress within the Hong Kong justice system from
the negative effects of the impending wage cut and levy.
Mr. Lecaros, who may be better known as the Department Spokesman over the
past 2 years, brings with him to Hanoi a treasure trove of experience from
his overseas stints in Texas, in Indonesia, in China and, most recently, in
Singapore.
In appointing these career professionals upon the recommendation of Secretary
Blas F. Ople, himself a long-time advocate of a world-class foreign service,
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is simply being true to her word about upholding
the career service. Her own father, early in his professional life,
served in the DFA and is largely credited with the passage of R.A. 708, the
original Foreign Service Act that provides for a career-based foreign service.
DFA insiders agree that her action will do wonders for their morale.