The confirmation of the diplomats came after Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, chairwoman of the CA foreign affairs committee, recommended their confirmation following committee hearings aimed at determining their fitness and integrity to hold such offices.

Confirmed as ambassadors were Willy C. Gaa as chief of mission, class I and as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States; Maria Rosario L. Janolo, as chief of mission, class II and as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Kenya and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and HABITAT with concurrent jurisdiction over Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda; Antonio P. Villamor as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Yemen; and Noel C. Cabrera as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Mexican States with concurrent jurisdiction over Belize, the Republic of Costa Rica, the Republic of El Salvador, the Republic of Guatemala, the Republic of Honduras, the Republic of Nicaragua, and the Republic of Panama.

Confirmed as chiefs of mission, class I were Enrique A. Manalo, Zenaida T. Rabago, Oscar G. Valenzuela, Belen F. Anota, Emelinda D. Lee Pineda,  Marciano A. Paynor Jr., Jesus I. Yabes, and Ma. Rowena M. Sanchez.

Also confirmed as chiefs of mission, class II were Generoso G. Calonge, Ma. Corazon Y. Bahjin, MacArthur F. Corsino, Ma. Aniceta Aileen H. Bugarin, Denis Y. Lepatan, Benito B. Valeriano, Marilyn J. Alarilla, Leslie B. Gatan, Jerril G. Santos, Jose Arthur P. Ampeso, Minda C. Cruz, and Walter S. Salmingo.

The CA also confirmed Jose Maria A. Carino, Ma. Leticia C. Ramos, and Alex G. Chua as career ministers.

Confirmed as foreign service officers, class I were Paul Vincent L. Uy, Raymond R. Balatbat, and Zaldy B. Patron. During the CA caucus, Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah D. Dimaporo asked his colleagues whether Villamor would be an effective ambassador to KSA, a Muslim country, since he is a Christian.

He pointed out that a smooth inter-action with Muslim ambassadors is needed because the country needs the  cooperation and support of the Organization of Islamic Council (IOC) in helping resolve the secessionist problem in the Muslim-dominated provinces in Mindanao and getting their financial support for Mindanao.

“I promise, I will not fail,” Villamor said.

Santiago told Senate reporters that the nomination of Imelda Lopez as ambassador to Italy was held in abeyance because President Arroyo has extended the term of incumbent Ambassador Philippe Lhuillier.

“There is no vacancy, so there can be no nomination for the post in Rome," Santiago said.

What is at present vacant is the post of ambassador to Argentina, she pointed out.

Lhuillier reportedly had taken his oath of office as ambassador to Argentina but his oath of office has been superseded by the extension of his term in Rome, she said.

Santiago also said her committee would next consider the nomination of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. as Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations.

She said she does not expect smooth sailing for the Davide hearing because of objections from opposition Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, son of former President Joseph Estrada, and two other opposers.

In opposing the nomination of Davide, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said:

“As long as I’m senator he will not be confirmed. There are a lot of questions he has to answer for, particularly on the swearing in of Mrs. Arroyo as acting president of the republic. I will vehemently oppose his nomination,’ he told INQ7.net.

As chief justice in 2001, Davide played a major role in the installation of, and later swore into office, then vice president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to replace former president Joseph Estrada at the height of the popular uprising that ousted Senator Estrada’s father.