KINUMPIRMA ng Malakanyang na itinalaga ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang career diplomat na si Enrique Manalo bilang Kalihim ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

Pinalitan ni Manalo si dating DFA Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr.

Sa isang text message, sinabi ni Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles na “Hi. Yes it is confirmed. But he asked for a few days to wind up affairs in his previous post.”

Nanumpa si Manalo sa harap ni Pangulong Marcos sa Malakanyang, nitong Biyernes, Hulyo 1.

Si Manalo ang unang career diplomat na itinalaga bilang DFA chief makalipas ang dalawang dekada matapos ni Delia Domingo Albert, unang babaeng lider ng departamento.

Si Manalo ay itinalaga bilang DFA Undersecretary for Policy sa ilalim ng administrasyon nina Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte at Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Si Manalo, 69, ay nagsilbi rin bilang acting Foreign Affairs secretary mula Marso 9 hanggang Mayo 17, 2017, matapos na mabigo si Perfecto Yasay na makuha ang kumpirmasyon ng Commission on Appointments bilang DFA secretary.

Si Manalo, nagretiro mula sa Foreign Service noong 2018, nagsilbi bilang Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations sa New York sa ilalim ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte mula taong 2020 hanggang Hunyo 30, 2022.

Bago pa siya naitalaga sa New York, nagsilbi si Manalo bilang Undersecretary for Policy ng DFA.

“Manalo is a low-key but experienced diplomat who has dealt with diplomatic crises, including the South China Sea disputes, with impressive calmness. The top job landed on his lap at a challenging time – a new administration and having to deal with the ongoing territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea,” ayon sa ulat. (CHRISTIAN DALE)