Ex-defense chief named special envoy to EU

MALACAÑANG has appointed former defense secretary Avelino Cruz as Special Envoy of the President to the European Union (EU).

President Duterte signed the appointment paper of Cruz on January 21, but it was released to the media the Wednesday after.

Cruz served as defense chief under the administration of former president and current House of Representatives Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He will be Duterte’s special envoy to the European bloc until December 31, 2019.

Duterte has also nominated Leo Herrera-Lim and Christopher B. Montero as ambassadors to Denmark and Brunei Darussalam, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Cook Islands has been added as concurrent jurisdiction of Ambassador to New Zealand Jesus S. Domingo, who is also exercising the same coverage over Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.