MANILA, 26 May 2005 — Undersecretary Jose Brillantes, who heads the Department of Foreign Affairs’ office of migrant workers concerns, is now the Philippine ambassador to Canada.

Brillantes got the nod of the Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday, along with Bienvenido Tejano as ambassador to New Zealand plus Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa.

Up for deliberation at the powerful commission in the coming days is the nomination of Bahnarim A. Guinomla, current Philippine ambassador to Saudi Arabia, as envoy to Pakistan.

It was not clear why Guinomla’s tour of duty in the Kingdom, supposed to be six years, was being cut short. It was learned that he will be leaving very soon for Manila to attend the next CA hearing.

Guinomla refused to comment on his reassignment when contacted by Arab News at his office in Riyadh last night. He said he would leave it to Manila to make the announcement.

He explained, though, that diplomats can only assume their foreign assignments when the 24-member CA, composed of senators and members of the House of Representatives, vote to confirm their nomination.

The president is the sole appointing power for diplomats, Cabinet secretaries, senior military officers and heads of constitutional commissions but the appointments have to be confirmed by the CA.

Guinomla officially assumed his post in Riyadh in July 2002, succeeding then Ambassador Rafael E. Seguis, who moved to Indonesia after then Ambassador Leonides Caday was disabled in a bomb attack in Jakarta.

Seguis subsequently became DFA undersecretary for special concerns and is currently in Baghdad to oversee negotiations for the release of Filipino accountant Robert Tarongoy, who was taken hostage by militants in November.

Guinomla also would not comment on rumors that retired General Roy Cimatu, President Gloria Arroyo’s special envoy to the Middle East, and Parouk Hussin, former governor of the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) were among those being eyed to replace him.

New Generals

In its plenary session yesterday, the CA also confirmed the promotion of 20 generals and 20 colonels in the military service and the nomination of 21 executives and 38 junior officers in the foreign service.

Confirmed were the appointment of Isaias Begonia, Luis T. Cruz, and Ruth Prado as chiefs of mission.

Approved as career officers were Joseph Gerard Angeles, Amelita Aquino, Leslie Baja, Maria Lumen Isleta, Gina Jamoralin, Ma. Leo Herrera-Lim, Joselito Jimeno, Jaime Victor Ledda, Domingo Lucenario Jr., Charlie Manangan, Eduardo Martin Me?ez, Meynardo Montealegre, Antonio Morales, Ma. Angelina Sta. Catalina, Carlos Sorreta, Ma. Teresa Taguiang, Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek and Eduardo Jose de Vega,.

In the military service, confirmed were the promotion of Cristolito Balaoing and Pedro Cabuay Jr. to the rank of lieutenant general.

Army and air force officers Ericson Aurelio Pedro, Christie Datu, Gabriel Habacon, Ike Inserto, Cardozo Luna and Ricardo Nobleza, were promoted to the rank of major general; George T. Uy of the navy got his second star to become rear admiral.

Confirmed as brigadier generals were Delfin Bangit, Emmanuel Cayton, Armando Cunanan, Ben Dolorfino, Oscar de Guzman, Eprodito Magno, Leopoldo Maligalig, Fernando Manalo, Jovenal Narcise, Rodolfo Obaniana, and Rogelio Rosete.