Miriam: Basilio will help calm Phl's sea dispute with China

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago expressed confidence Thursday that Foreign Undersecretary Erlinda Basilio, who has been appointed as Philippine envoy to China, will breeze through the Commission on Appointments (CA).

“She will have high chances. Number one, she has a long record of actual experience because she is a hands-on secretary; and number two, I believe she has the full faith and confidence of her secretary, that is very important for a sensitive post like China,” Santiago said.

Santiago noted that Basilio “knows every single member of the CA in the Senate because she always appear for the DFA.”

“She is an excellent choice and even level-headed," the senator said.

“She will do well, help calm the roiling waters in the West Philippine Sea,” Santiago said.