Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is to name an acting foreign minister on Thursday, after the Commission on Appointment (CA) rejected the appointment of Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay over citizenship issue.
Duterte's spokesman, Ernesto Abella, said Duterte's office will make the announcement on Thursday morning.
Yasay failed to get the nod of the powerful commission whose members questioned the top diplomat's eligibility following reports he was a U.S. citizen in possession of a U.S. passport.
Yasay has denied legally applying for a U.S. citizenship in past hearings. But during Wednesday's final committee hearing, Yasay apologized for "having inadvertently misled the commission" on the citizenship issue.
"It has never been my intention to deceive this commission about this citizenship status. Simply put, I did not lose my status as a Filipino," Yasay told the commission.
CA Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Panfilo Lacson said the commission's "unanimous" decision on Yasay is final, and that the top diplomat needs to immediately vacate his post.
Whoever Duterte names as acting foreign minister will only serve until May.
Duterte is expected to appoint his former running mate in the last presidential elections, Sen. Peter Cayetano, as permanent foreign secretary. Duterte has promised Cayetano the post even when before he appointed Yasay to the post shortly after assuming office in June last year.
Source: Xinhua
GMT 00:00 2017 Saturday ,18 November
‘Bomb plot foiled’ ahead of ASEAN Summit in PhilippinesGMT 15:23 2017 Monday ,13 November
Trump hails 'great relationship' with self-proclaimed killer DuterteGMT 15:43 2017 Friday ,03 November
Pro-IS 'stragglers' a threat to ruined Philippine cityGMT 18:34 2017 Tuesday ,17 October
Philippines: Last leaders of ISIS-tied siege killed in MarawiGMT 05:32 2017 Thursday ,12 October
Troops recover bodies of 22 ‘militants’ in MarawiMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor