THE Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday, November 28, unanimously confirmed the ad interim appointment of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

President Rodrigo Duterte formally appointed Locsin as the Philippines's top diplomat on October 17, after former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano stepped down from office to seek a seat at the House of Representatives in the 2019 midterm elections.

Locsin was the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations before being named the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The DFA chief is a lawyer, politician, and a former journalist.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Palace welcomes the CA's confirmation of Locsin's nomination as the Foreign Affairs Secretary.

"With this confirmation, Secretary Locsin would be able to lead the DFA in supporting the President chart an independent foreign policy course while pro-actively looking after the welfare, protection and well-being of millions of overseas Filipino workers around the world," Panelo said.

"Being a lawyer, the Filipino community can expect Secretary Locsin to fully advance the interests of the Philipines in the community of nations and protect the sovereignty of the State," he added. (SunStar Philippines)