BBM1 President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has appointed seasoned career diplomat Enrique Manalo as the new head of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Malacañang announced on Friday.

Manalo named DFA chief

July 1, 2022 Cristina Lee-Pisco 239 views

SEASONED career diplomat Enrique Manalo was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the new Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The diplomats welcomed the appointment of Manalo as the new DFA chief and thanked the President for naming a veteran career diplomat who can be expected to advance the interest of the Philippines in the international community.

A post on its official Facebook page said, “The Department of Foreign Affairs congratulates the appointment of career diplomat Ambassador Enrique Manalo as the new Secretary of Foreign Affairs.”

Manalo is the current Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) in New York. He also served as acting Foreign Affairs Secretary from March 9 to May 17, 2017, when the powerful Commission on Appointments rejected the ad interim appointment of the late DFA chief Perfecto Yasay Jr.

Manalo’s career in the Philippine Foreign Service spans over four decades since he joined the DFA in 1979.

He served as Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy from 2007 to 2010 and from 2016 to 2020.

He was also the Philippine Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2011 to 2016; Non-Resident Philippine Ambassador to Ireland from 2013 to 2016; Philippine Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, and Head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union from 2010 to 2011.

He served as the Philippine Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Philippine Mission to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland from 2003 to 2007.

Manalo began his career in the Philippine Foreign Service as the Special Assistant to the Office of the Deputy Minister from 1979 to 1981.

After completing his first tour of duty at the Philippine Mission to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, he served as the Special Assistant to the First Undersecretary of the DFA.

He also served as the Assistant Secretary for European Affairs after his stint as the Minister Counsellor of the Philippine Mission to the UN in New York from 1998 to 2000.

AUTHOR PROFILE