MANILA - (UPDATED) Foreign Affairs undersecretary Enrique Manalo has been designated as acting head of the department, replacing Perfecto Yasay, whose appointment as top diplomat was rejected by the Commission on Appointments, Malacanang said Thursday.

Manalo, an "excellent transition man," will hold the position of acting secretary until a permanent replacement for Yasay is named, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said.

"Usec. Manalo is an excellent transition man, and has been on top of many crucial issues together with Atty. Perfecto Yasay," Abella added.

Manalo is currently undersecretary for policy. He had also served as Philippine ambassador to the United Kingdom deputy permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, and ambassador to Belgium.

The Commission on Appointments rejected Yasay's appointment after lawmakers questioned his being granted an American citizenship and passport.

MANALO'S CREDENTIALS

Manalo was Deputy Minister for Policy at the DFA since April 2016. Prior to that he was Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Court of St. James’s, Ireland, and Belgium, and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, and Head of the Philippine Mission to the European Union.

He also served as Ambassador and Permanent Representative,
Philippine Mission to the United Nations and other International Organizations, Geneva from Oct 2003 to July 2007.

Manalo also held other key positions like Deputy Permanent Representative, Philippine Mission to the United Nations, New York; Charge d’Affaires, Philippine Mission to the United Nations, New York; Deputy Permanent Representative, Philippine Mission to the United Nations, New York. His foreign service career began in 1979.

He earned his Master's degree in Economics from the University of the Philippines, Manila in 1976. He has a BA Economics degree from the same university.