Envoy to Spain ends tour of duty

  MANILA, Philippines - One of the 21 political ambassadors ended her tour of duty last July 20, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Philippine Ambassador to Spain Ana De Sequera-Ugarte paid a farewell call on Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos on June 11 at the Palacio de Viana.

During the call, Ugarte conveyed to Moratinos her appreciation for the cooperation and assistance extended by the Spanish government to the Philippines and expressed hope that relations between the two countries will continue to deepen in the coming years.

For his part, Moratinos emphasized the importance of Spain’s relations with the Philippines and conveyed his go­vernment´s hopes of working closely with the new administration of President Aquino, particularly in the teaching of the Spanish language in Philippine high schools.

Ugarte departed Madrid on June 30, 2010 in compliance with a DFA order to return home but Malacañang extended the tour of duty of the 21 political ambassadors for three months.

The Chilean government has also bid farewell to Philippine Ambassador to Chile Maria Consuelo Puyat-Reyes until the said extension of duty.