Former Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. has been appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, the government has announced in a press statement. He replaces former Ambassador Antonio Manuel Lagdameo who has recently been named as permanent representative of the Philippines to the United Nations.
Locsin was foreign affairs secretary from 2018 to the end of the Duterte administration. Prior to being appointed as chief of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), he represented the Philippines at the United Nations from 2017 to 2018.
Before joining the DFA, Locsin was a speechwriter for former Presidents Corazon Aquino, Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
He also served as the press secretary of Aquino and representative of the first district of Makati City from 2001 to 2010.
He was also the publisher of the Philippines Free Press, and the national broadsheets, the Daily Globe and Today.
Locsin earned his Bachelor of Laws from the Ateneo de Manila University in 1977 and a Master of Laws degree from Harvard University in 1983.
As ambassador, Locsin will have concurrent jurisdiction over Ireland, Isle of Man, Bailiwick of Jersey, and Bailiwick of Guernsey, according to his appointment paper dated Aug. 30.
Photo credit: Department of Foreign Affairs website
