Duterte appoints Andanar’s father as special envoy to Malaysia

By Gillian M. Cortez
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin M. Andanar’s father has been appointed by the President Rodrigo R. Duterte to be the special envoy to Malaysia.
In a document by the Malacañang dated August 9, Former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Wencelito T. Andanar was designated “special envoy of the president to Malaysia for a term of six (6) months.”
The senior Mr. Andanar, who served under the administration of Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said in a statement to reporters on Monday “I am humbled by the opportunity to serve the President and the country.”
He added, “Hopefully, I can help forge stronger bonds between the Philippines and Malaysia as we endeavor to intensify bilateral cooperation to combat national crimes such as terrorism, piracy, and human trafficking.”
Last month, Mr. Duterte visited Malaysia where he and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad vowed to have stronger bilateral ties and address transnational crimes.
Also recently appointed by the Palace were Bureau of Customs (BOC) Director III Jeffrey Ian C. Dy to replace former BOC Commissioner Noel Patrick S. Prudente. Mr. Prudente was dismissed from his position last May.
Prior to being appointed as the new deputy commissioner for BOC, Mr. Dy was appointed as Director III of BOC only last April.
On the other hand, Labor Arbiter Julia Cecily C. Sosito was appointed as presiding commissioner of the second division of the National Labor Relations Commission.