White House to name new RP ambassador soon

A new US ambassador is expected to be announced by the White House anytime now, and he or she might visit here next month, the US Embassy said yesterday.

US Embassy acting chargé d’ affaires Darryl Johnson said the confirmation process on the appointment of the next US envoy will immediately follow after the White House makes the official announcement.

"We expect that there’ll be a White House announcement any day now, giving the name, and the Senate will act for the confirmation process," he said.

"We hope that the new ambassador will be here sometime next month," he added.

Johnson accompanied new US embassy deputy chief of mission Paul Jones during his introductory call on Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Pasay City.

"We expect it (the official announcement of a new ambassador) anytime," he said.

"It’s a routine matter, but once the announcement is made, then the confirmation process will be acted upon by the Senate," Johnson said.

He said Jones is the new No. 2 man at the US Embassy in Manila and he will soon take over as chargé d’ affaires.

"To introduce Mr. Jones who is the new No. 2 at the embassy and will soon take over as the chargé," he told reporters at the DFA. "We hope we’ll have a long and happy time in the Philippines."