President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has named former Foreign Affairs secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Malacañang announced Sunday.
Locsin will have concurrent jurisdiction over Ireland, Isle of Man, Bailiwick of Jersey, and Bailiwick of Guernsey, according to his appointment papers dated Aug. 30.
He will also have the salary and emoluments of a Chief of Mission, Class I.
Under his term as DFA chief, Locsin pursued former President Rodrigo Duterte’s “independent” foreign policy.
He earlier said he left the department proud of its accomplishments in the field of diplomacy.
Locsin is a lawyer, politician and former journalist.
He served as speechwriter and press secretary of the late President Corazon Aquino before being elected as Makati representative for three consecutive terms from 2001 to 2010.
Locsin also served as speechwriter for two presidents, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2002 to 2006) and Joseph Ejercito Estrada (1998).
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.
