Sponsorship Speeches

Sponsorship Speech for DFA Officials at the Commission on Appointments

(Delivered by Rep. Luis ‘Jonjon’ Ferrer IV on Sen. Lacson’s behalf) Mr. Chairman, distinguished members of the Commission on Appointments, this Representation as the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs presided over a public hearing this morning to deliberate on the nomination of one (1) Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

The Committee likewise deliberated on the ad interim appointments of eighteen (18) Senior Officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs consisting of five (5) Senior Officials who are promoted to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class I; six (6) Senior Officials promoted to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class II; five (5) Senior Officials promoted to the rank of Career Minister; and, two (2) Senior Officials promoted to the rank of Foreign Service Officer, Class I.

Your Committee, after deliberating on their qualifications and fitness during the public hearing, determined that they are all fit and qualified to be in the posts where they are nominated and appointed, and therefore ruled to recommend to the plenary their appointments for the consent and approval of this body.

Mr. Chair, may I request AMBASSADOR MARIO FONTANILLA CHAN to rise to be recognized.

Our nominee is a fellow cavalier, a proud member of PMA Makatarungan Class of 1978, and a distinguished recipient of the 1988 Junior Officer Award. His military career for 38 years has been a mark of honor: in 1994, he received a Bronze Cross Medal for acts of heroism and gallantry in action; he was conferred with a Distinguished Service Star in 2001 as the Group Commander of Military Intelligence Group 17 (MIG 17) under AFP’s Intelligence Service; and he was honored with a Distinguished Service Star in 2005 as the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché in New Delhi, India.

His diplomatic missions for three years as the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal prior to joining the DFA also yielded favorable accomplishments. In fact, he was credited for providing assistance to the Philippine Embassy during the evacuation of non-essential staff out of India during the India-Pakistan security tensions in October 2002. To this end, his unit earned the distinction of being the Best Post during his stint as the Philippine Defense and Armed Forces Attaché in India.

Mr. Chairman and distinguished colleagues, it is my privilege and honor to recommend that this body give its consent to the nomination of AMBASSADOR MARIO FONTANILLA CHAN as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federative Republic of Brazil, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Colombia, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the Republic of Suriname, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela with the salary and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class I.

I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I would also like to recommend to the Commission the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the following officials to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class I:

1. MR. SULPICIO MIGUEL CONFIADO, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

2. MR. NATHANIEL GARCIA IMPERIAL, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

3. MR. CHARLIE PACAÑA MANANGAN, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

4. MS. HJAYCEELYN MANCENIDO QUINTANA, I so move, Mr. Chairman. and,

5. MR. RENATO PEDRO OABEL VILLA, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I would also like to recommend to the Commission the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the following officials to the rank of Chief of Mission, Class II:

1. MR. LEO TITO LUNAR AUSAN JR. I so move, Mr. Chairman.

2. MR. JOSE ALMODOVAR CABRERA III, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

3. MR. EMILIO TORRES FERNANDEZ, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

4. MR. JOSEL FRANCISCO IGNACIO, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

5. MS. ROSARIO PAULINO LEMQUE, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

6. MR. MARCOS ANGELO ABAD SANTOS PUNSALANG, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

I would also like to recommend to the Commission the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the following officials to the rank of Career Ministers:

1. MR. ARIZ SEVERINO VILLAESCUSA CONVALECER, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

2. MS. MARIA PAZ GABAN CORTES, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

3. MS. CHRISTINA GRACIA ROLA MCKERNAN, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

4. MS. REICHEL PAJARILLAGA QUIÑONES, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

5. MR. JOSEPH ANTHONY AQUINO REYES, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, I recommend the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the following to the rank of Foreign Service Officers, Class I:

1. MR. REDENTOR DIAZ GENOTIVA, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

2. MS. MARY GRACE VILLANUEVA VILLAMAYOR, I so move, Mr. Chairman.

Maraming salamat po, Ginoong Chairman.

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