Ex-DFA spokesperson takes oath as new Phl envoy to Korea

MANILA, Philippines - Raul Hernandez, the former spokesperson of the Department of Foreign Affairs, has formally assumed his new post as the Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea.

According to the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), President Benigno Aquino III administered the oath of office of newly appointed ambassadors and government officials including Hernandez in a ceremony at Malacañang on Monday.

Besides Hernandez, the newly appointed ambassadors who took oath on Monday were Petronila Garcia as Philippine Ambassador to Canada and Joseph Gerald Angeles as Philippine Ambassador to South Africa.

Also sworn into office were Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Jesus Yabes and Special Envoy of the President to the Gulf Cooperative Council Amable Aguiluz

Former military chief of staff Eduardo Oban and Marciano Paynor Jr. were also both sworn in as undersecretaries under the Office of the Executive Secretary.

Other officials who took their oath of office were:

• Jess Anthony Yu as Undersecretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office
• Jose Emmanuel Reverente as Undersecretary of the Department of Finance
• Edwin Carillo as Assistant Government Corporate Counsel under the Department of Justice
• Victorio Mario Dimagiba as Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry
• Rodolfo Isorena as Vice Admiral of the Philippine Coast Guard
• Luie Tito Guia as Commissioner of the Commission on Elections