MANILA -- President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III has appointed Wilfredo Villacorta as the Philippines’ permanent representative to the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean).

Aquino made the announcement while in Vietnam for the 17th Asean Summit.

Villacorta replaces Ambassador Orlando Mercado, who is a former senator.

Villacorta is a former deputy secretary-general of the Asean. He is a professor emeritus of De Salle University and a member commissioner of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) National Commission of the Philippines. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)