MANILA – Newly-appointed Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teodoro Lopez Locsin Jr. has received a marching order from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte when he took his oath of office in Malacañang on Wednesday.
“I was there at the oath taking yesterday (Wednesday) and the conversation was like this: “I’m honored with your appearance today and there is only one message I would like to give you and that is – be truthful.” Nothing more,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said during Thursday’s Palace media briefing.
Locsin replaced Alan Peter Cayetano who will run as congressman of Taguig City in the 2019 mid-term elections.
Panelo said Duterte appoints members of the Cabinet “on the basis of truth and competence”.
“I think what PRRD means is that every Cabinet member should be like him, a straight forward person, he tells exactly what he feels when he meets with foreign leaders. He is honest with his position. He calls a spade a spade. Walang ketche boreche. Always straight to the point without linking an eye,” Panelo said.
He said the President and Locsin did not discuss other issues, including the joint exploration agreement with China in the West Philippine Sea.
“That was the only message (be truthful), because after that, we hear the new DFA attended the courtesy call of the various foreign officials,” he said.
Asked if Duterte has instructions on the country's foreign policy, Panelo said Locsin knows exactly the President’s marching orders on government’s independent foreign policy.
“There has been no change from the time that Secretaries has been appointed to the Department of Foreign Affairs from former Secretary (Perfecto) Yasay to former Secretary Alan and to him,” Panelo said.
Prior to being appointed DFA chief, Locsin was the country’s representative to the United Nations.
He also served as presidential legal counsel and speechwriter of former president Corazon Aquino.
Retired Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista also took his oath of office as the new Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), replacing Acting Secretary Virginia Orogo.
Bautista, who retired from military service on Monday, was the former commanding general of the Philippine Army and overall ground commander in Marawi City. (PNA)
