JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA

20th Congress

(Member, 26 August 2025 - Present)

SEP

2025

Sponsorship speech for the consent of the appointments and for the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of twenty-four (24) Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs

Plenary Session No. 02, First Regular Session

Mr. Chairman, distinguished colleagues, as Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, I have the distinct honor to sponsor the consent to the nominations and the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of the following distinguished officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs:

Nominations:

ENRIQUE AUSTRIA MANALO

Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York, United States of America, with salary and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class I. A pillar of Philippine diplomacy and a former Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Manalo brings unparalleled expertise in multilateral negotiations and a lifetime of service dedicated to protecting and advancing our national interests on the global stage.

FRANCISCO NOEL RIO FERNANDEZ

Chief of Mission, Class I as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. A brilliant lawyer and Bar topnotcher, Ambassador Fernandez combines intellectual rigor with decades of practical diplomatic experience. He is poised to strengthen our vital partnership with Vietnam, especially in the face of shared challenges in the South China Sea and in regional food security.

PATRICK JOHN UYTIEPO HILADO

Chief of Mission, Class I as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federative Republic of Brazil, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana and the Republic of Suriname. With nearly three decades of service, Ambassador Hilado has proven himself a capable leader in both consular and diplomatic work. His appointment will open new doors for Philippine trade, agriculture, and diaspora engagement in Latin America.

JAIME RAMON TORRE ASCALON JR.

Chief of Mission, Class II as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Türkiye, with concurrent jurisdiction over Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. A seasoned envoy with extensive service in Washington, ASEAN, and San Francisco, Ambassador Ascalon carries with him a track record of innovative outreach and effective negotiations. He is ready to advance Philippine interests in a region critical to global security and energy dynamics.

GINES JAIME RICARDO DACANAY GALLAGA

Chief of Mission, Class II as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Bahrain. Known for his steady leadership and broad experience in the United States and Europe, Ambassador Gallaga will take on the important responsibility of safeguarding the welfare of thousands of Filipinos working in Bahrain while also pursuing stronger economic cooperation with the Gulf states.

PABLITO AUSTRIA MENDOZA

Chief of Mission, Class II as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Denmark. Ambassador Mendoza has built a reputation as a diligent and effective representative of our country in Europe. His posting in Denmark will be instrumental in building partnerships in renewable energy, maritime security, and climate change – areas where Denmark is a global leader.

MARLOWE AGUILAR MIRANDA

Chief of Mission, Class II as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Lebanese Republic. With nearly three decades of service in some of the world’s most challenging assignments, Ambassador Miranda brings invaluable crisis management experience. He has consistently placed the protection of our overseas workers at the heart of his mission, and he will continue to do so in Lebanon.

NOEL MANGAOANG NOVICIO

Chief of Mission, Class II as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Fiji. A topnotcher in the Foreign Service examinations and a scholar in strategic studies, Ambassador Novicio has made his mark in ASEAN and multilateral diplomacy. His assignment in Fiji places him in a key position to strengthen Philippine engagement with our Pacific neighbors, particularly on climate change and regional cooperation.

Ad Interim Appointments:

Chief of Mission, Class I

RAYMOND REYES BALATBAT

Chiefs of Mission, Class II

GERARDO PADILLA ABIOG
FELIPE FABIAN CARIÑO III
MARIA ANNA LILIA L. DE VERA - SCHINAZI

GONARANAO BANTUAS SANGCOPAN MUSOR

DINO MARQUEZ OBLENA

Career Ministers

JAY FRANCIS GALINO ALCANTARA

SHIRLEY L. FLORES-IMPERIAL
ROMMEL ARIMAN ROMATO

Foreign Service Officers, Class I

FLAUREEN DAMASEN DACANAY

LV IGNACIO DE GUZMAN
VON RYAN GASMENA PANGWI
MARY GRACE LUZA PERPETUA

MAGELLA CRISTY U. PUA-DIEZMOS

Foreign Service Officers, Class II

VIDA SORAYA SALIH VERZOSA

RALPH JACOB VILORIA

Mr. Chairman, distinguished colleagues, the nominees and appointees before us today represent the very best of our foreign service corps. They are men and women of competence, integrity, and deep dedication to duty. They have sacrificed much in the name of public service, and in return, they have earned the trust of our government and the respect of the communities they have served here and abroad.

In view of their exemplary record and unquestionable qualifications, the Committee on Foreign Affairs has found them fit and qualified for the positions to which they have been appointed.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

OCT

2025

Sponsorship speech for SHARON SERAG GARIN for the confirmation of her ad interim appointment as Secretary Department of Energy (DoE)

Plenary Session No. 04, First Regular Session

Mr. Chairman, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen:

It is my distinct honor, as Chairman of the Committee on Energy, to sponsor before this Commission the ad interim appointment of Honorable Sharon Serag Garin as Secretary of the Department of Energy.

Secretary Garin brings with her an impressive blend of academic preparation, professional training, and legislative experience. She is a Certified Public Accountant, a lawyer, and an MBA graduate from one of Europe's top business schools. She is armed with both the discipline of law and the rigor of finance qualities that are indispensable in running an agency as technical and crucial as the Department of Energy.

For 12 years in the House of Representatives, she served with distinction as Party-list Representative under AAMBIS-Owa. She rose to become Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairperson of the Committee on Economic Affairs. In the House of Representatives, she played a pivotal role in landmark reforms: the Public Service Act, CREATE, TRAIN, Retail Trade Liberalization, and the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, among others. More importantly, she authored and pushed measures on energy – ranging from amendments to the EPIRA, Biofuels, and Oil Deregulation laws to the creation of a national framework for nuclear energy safety.

Her service in the Department of Energy has been equally consequential. As Undersecretary, she chaired the Nuclear Energy Program Interagency Committee, strengthened renewable energy policies, and streamlined service contracts. As Acting Secretary, she showed decisiveness when she ordered action against erring power providers, putting consumers first. And today, as Secretary, her vision is very clear: energy security, sustainability, and affordability. She seeks to accelerate renewable energy, pursue responsible nuclear power, expand electrification, and build resiliency in our power systems.

My dear colleagues, the energy challenges facing our people are enormous – rising electricity rates, the urgent need for clean and sustainable sources, and the demand for universal access to power. We need a steady hand, a sharp mind, and a strong will at the helm of the DOE. Secretary Sharon Garin has proven that she is more than equal to the task.

Mr. Chair, her record is clean. Her competence is evident. Her commitment to public service is beyond doubt. Mr. Chair, distinguished colleagues, I therefore respectfully move for the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of Honorable Sharon Serag Garin as Secretary of the Department of Energy.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

OCT

2025

Seconding speech for HENRY RHOEL RATUITA AGUDA for the confirmation of his ad interim appointment as Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology

Plenary Session No. 04, First Regular Session

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chair, esteemed colleagues, I express my strong and unequivocal support for the confirmation of the ad interim appointment Henry Aguda as Secretary of the DICT.

Mr. Chair, Secretary-designate Aguda brings with him a wealth of expertise in digital innovation, systems transformation, and strategic leadership – qualities that are critically needed in a world increasingly defined by information technology and cybersecurity.

His decades-long experience in both the public and private sectors has equipped him with a deep understanding of how to integrate technology into national development.

As Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Technology and Operations Officer, and Chief Transformation Officer of UnionBank of the Philippines, Secretary Aguda spearheaded the bank's digital transformation, leading it to become one of the most technologically advanced financial institutions in Southeast Asia. His pioneering work in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cloud computing has set benchmarks for innovation and digital inclusion.

Prior to this, he served in government as Undersecretary and CIO of the Supreme Court, where he played a pivotal role in digitizing court processes-initiating reforms that brought transparency, efficiency, and accessibility to the country's justice system.

These initiatives have had lasting impacts on our legal institutions and serve as a testament to his commitment to good governance.

Now, as he assumes leadership of the DICT, he is poised to usher in a new era of digital transformation for the Philippine government-one that prioritizes secure, inclusive, and citizen-centric digital services. His vision for a fully interconnected bureaucracy, smart governance, expanded public internet access, and strengthened cybersecurity aligns with our nation's urgent needs.

Mr. Chair, as we confront challenges in cybersecurity, digital literacy, and connectivity gaps particularly in underserved and far-flung communities, it is vital that the DICT be helmed by a leader who not only understands technology but can also translate innovation into tangible improvements in people's lives. Secretary Aguda is that leader.

So, Mr. President, Mr. Chair, it is for these reasons that I respectfully manifest my full and enthusiastic support for the confirmation of Henry Rhoel Ratuita Aguda as Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

OCT

2025

Seconding speech for the confirmation of the ad interim appointments and for the consent of the appointments of thirty-nine (39) Generals/Flag Officers and Senior Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

*(submitted in writing)

Plenary Session No. 04, First Regular Session

Mr. Chairman, distinguished colleagues:

As a member of this Commission and as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense, I rise to manifest my full support for the confirmation of the ad interim appointments and nominations of thirty-nine (39) Generals, Flag Officers, and Senior Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Our men and women in uniform carry the immense responsibility of safeguarding our sovereignty, defending our territorial integrity, and ensuring the security of our people.

In their respective assignments, they also serve as first responders in times of calamities, protectors of peace in conflict-affected areas, and partners in humanitarian and nation-building programs.

The officers before us today represent not only their own professional achievements but also the collective honor, sacrifice, and discipline of the AFP. Many of them have distinguished themselves in internal security operations, in modernization initiatives, in strengthening maritime and air defense, and in building stronger civil-military relations with communities across our country.

We in this Commission entrust upon them not just higher rank, but higher accountability. Their assumption of command requires unwavering commitment to integrity, professionalism, and respect for human rights-values that must always guide the Armed Forces.

Mr. Chairman, I am confident that these officers are worthy of the trust reposed in them. Their leadership will help drive forward our goals of a modern, capable, and people centered Armed Forces.

In this light, I respectfully manifest my strong support for their confirmation, and I join my colleagues in urging the Commission to grant its consent to their appointments.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

DEC

2025

Seconding speech for the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of JOSE CATRAL MENDOZA as Member, Representing the Retired Justices of the Supreme Court, Judicial and Bar Council, Supreme Court of the Philippines, for a term expiring on 09 July 2029

Plenary Session No. 06, First Regular Session

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is to express my support to the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of Justice Jose Catral Mendoza as Member of the Judicial and Bar Council, representing the retired Justices of the Supreme Court, for a term expiring 09 July 2029.

After his exemplary record of 45 long years in the Judiciary, his stint in public service continues in another capacity in the JBC which has the principal function of nominating appointments to the judicial branch of the government from the lower courts all the way to the Supreme Court.

We are confident that Justice Mendoza will employ the highest standards in screening and scrutinizing applications to sit on the bench, and will recommend only the best and the brightest, the most deserving men and women of utmost integrity to the post.

We also call on Justice Mendoza to ensure that the process will not only be transparent, but also efficient to immediately fill up vacancies in our courts, to address mounting backlogs and to ensure swift disposition of cases.

Thank you, Mr. President. And my warmest congratulations to Justice Mendoza.

FEB

2026

Seconding speech for the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of eighty-one (81) Generals/Flag Officers and Senior Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

*(submitted in writing)

Plenary Session No. 08, First Regular Session

“Mr. President, this representation wishes to place on record my strong support to the confirmation of ad interim appointments of 81 Generasl/Flag Officers, and Senior Officers from the different major services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to wit:

2 to the rank of Rear Admiral;
1 to the rank of Commodore;
2 to the rank of Brigadier General;
16 to the rank of Captain; and
60 to the rank of Colonel.

It is clear that they have all exhibited throughout their exemplary military service the ideals of honor, service and patriotism that the organization stands for, and have made the AFP the strong and trusted institution that it is today.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincerest gratitude to the men and women of the AFP who have sacrificed and endured countless hardships, braved the enemy lines and battlefronts, and stayed true and loyal to their mission and sworn duty, despite the overwhelming temptations to do otherwise.

I extend my greetings to our gallant soldiers as they celebrated their 90th anniversary - 90 years of heroism, courage and professionalism of the armed forces which was formally organized during the American Commonwealth era through the National Defense Act of 1935.

Please accept our deepest appreciation for all the work that you do, for being the protector of the Filipino people, and for defending the peace that is the bedrock of national progress.

Congratulations! My snappy salute to all of you.

Thank you, Mr. President.”

MAR

2026

Seconding speech for the consent of the appointments and for the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of four (4) Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs

Plenary Session No. 09, First Regular Session

Thank you Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I rise to manifest my support and consent to the nomination of former Energy and Environment Secretary Popo Lotilla as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Holy See, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Sovereign Order of Malta.

While it is his initial assignment as a diplomat, his impressive professional background in the private sector, the academe, and in the executive and legislative departments, having worked with some of the brilliant minds of the Senate, including former Senate Presidents Marcelo Fernan, Jovito Salonga, Edgardo Angara and Blas Ople, demonstrate that Secretary Popo has the competence, fitness, and work ethic to join and succeed in the foreign service.

This representation also extends my support to the confirmation of three ad interim appointments from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

And as we celebrate 2026 as the Year of Philippine Diplomatic History and Diaspora, which marks the 80th anniversary of the recognition of formal diplomatic relations between the Philippine government and other sovereign nations in the world, this is an opportune time to honor the excellent work and tireless efforts of the men and women of the DFA, then and now, in building and maintaining beneficial international partnerships, and in promoting and advancing the interests of Filipinos before the community of nations. Thank you for your dedicated service.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

MAR

2026

Seconding speech for the confirmation of the ad interim appointments of seventy (70) Generals/Flag Officers and Senior Officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines

*(submitted in writing)

Plenary Session No. 09, First Regular Session

“Mr. Chairperson, I rise to express my full support to the confirmation of ad interim appointments of sixty-nine (69) Senior Officers to the rank of Colonel and Captain, and one (1) Brigadier General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. After the Committee’s scrutiny of their credentials and professional background, we found them to be truly competent and gallant patriots. Maraming salamat po sa inyong serbisyo at sakripisyo para sa ating minamahal na bansang Pilipinas!

As we observe the National Women’s Month, let me salute the honorable women senior officers who rose up the military ladder, and proved that women, with their resourcefulness, diligence and resilience, can indeed succeed in the predominantly male organization. My warmest commendation to:

Colonel Agnes Ballinas - Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel, G1, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, Camp Gen. Lukban,

Catbalogan City, Samar

Colonel Gina Burac - Chief of the Nursing Service, Camp Navarro General Hospital, Health Service Center-Western Mindanao,

AFP Medical Center, Camp Navarro, Zamboanga City

Colonel Luisita Clavecillas II - Assistant Chief of Staff for Civil-Military Operations, G7. 11th Infantry Division, Philippine Army,

Camp Bautista in Jolo, Sulu

Colonel Teresita Gangan - Chief of Staff, 2nd Intelligence Regiment, Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

Colonel Beverly Librada - Command Internal Auditor of the AFP Medical Center, Camp V. Luna, Quezon City

Captain Susan Quisido - Commanding Officer, BRP Dagupan City, Sealift Amphibious Force, Philippine Fleet, Philippine Navy,

Naval Operation Base in Subic, Zambales.

This representation looks forward to your promotion as AFP generals soon. Congratulations!

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”

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