MANILA - Former lawmaker and ABS-CBN journalist Teddy Locsin Jr. has been appointed as the new Philippine ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Malacañang announced Sunday.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar confirmed that Locsin had accepted the post after meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte at Bahay Pangarap in Malacañang.

"Locsin said he accepted the position as UN Ambassador," Andanar said in a statement.

According to Andanar, Locsin will issue a statement after he returns from an overseas trip next Tuesday.

A Makati representative from 2001 to 2010, Locsin currently hosts shows for the ABS-CBN News Channel.

Locsin's appointment comes as the UN condemns the wave of killings unleashed by Duterte's war on drugs.

(Tok, tok...bang, bang: The bloody war on drugs)

Duterte has repeatedly criticized high-ranking officials of the international body, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, for "interfering" with the anti-drug campaign that has seen over 3,000 killings.