The Philippines’ top negotiator to China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been chosen as the new foreign affairs secretary in a major Cabinet reshuffle ordered by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Maria Theresa Lazaro will assume the post as Marcos’ foreign affairs chief, replacing Enrique Manalo, who will return to his former post as Philippine Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, which he held from 2020 to June 30, 2022 under former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Lazaro will take over the helm at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on July 31, but she would still go through confirmation proceedings in Congress.
She is the…