He said President Benigno Aquino III's nomination letter has been sent to the Commission on Appointments, composed of 24 senators and congressmen, for review and confirmation.

Binay said he did not want to pre-empt the host government but was prompted to make the announcement due to persistent demands by members of the Filipino community, some of whom expressed concern that the Aquino administration did not seem to give importance to Philippine relations with Saudi Arabia.

A member of Binay's delegation said Tago should breeze through the Commission on Appointments, considering his credentials. A career diplomat, Tago is a Muslim who is articulate in Arabic. He is the son of a retired career diplomat from the southern Philippine province of Lanao del Norte and an Egyptian mother.

He was appointed consul general in Jeddah, a position he still holds even after he was plucked as chargé d'affaires at the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh in mid-2010 when Ambassador Antonio Villamor was recalled by the home office.

Tago told Arab News that he had been informed of his nomination, but the process could only be considered complete after his appointment is confirmed by the commission and subsequently accepted by the Saudi government.