Aquino names Manolo Lopez new ambassador to Japan

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) chairman Manuel "Manolo" Lopez will be the country's new ambassador to Japan, President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III said on Tuesday. In a chance interview in Mandaluyong City, Aquino confirmed the report that Lopez will be replacing career diplomat Domingo Siazon Jr. as ambassador to Japan. Lopez is the second member of the influential Lopez clan to be part of Aquino's administration. In August, environmentalist Regina "Gina" Lopez was sworn in as chairperson of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission. During the interview, Aquino also said he chose to retain Mercedes Tuason as the Philippine ambassador to the Vatican and Noe Wong as ambassador to Cambodia. The Office of the Executive Secretary said Ma. Consuelo Puyat-Reyes has also been retained as ambassador to Chile, with concurrent jurisdiction over Peru and Ecuador. In July, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo extended the terms of non-career ambassadors until September 30 on hold-over capacity. Aquino has yet to fill the positions of other ambassadors whose terms have already ended. –VVP, GMANews.TV